Core Body of Knowledge for Information Technology Professionals (Skills Assessment for Migration Purposes Only)

The Australian Computer Society Incorporated
PO Box 534 QVB, Sydney NSW 1230
AUSTRAliA
Ph: (02) 9299 3666
Fax: (02) 9299 3997

As a guide this section provides brief details for each of the identified areas of knowledge. For each area, a preamble and a list of topics is identified together with the context within which the area of knowledge fits the core body of knowledge. It is emphasised that these details are included in this document for descriptive purposes only. It is expected that the various Australian IT tertiary courses would implement and emphasise different aspects of the material in accord with their academic and equipment strengths.

Preamble

This unit encompass organisation of simple computer systems and the way in which hardware provides the basic facilities for the machine. It introduces techniques involved in the programming of input-output operations and the interrupt structure which underlies operating system organisation in uniprocessor systems.

Computer Architecture and Instruction Set Design

Review of Assembly Language Instructions with particular emphasis on instructions used in I/O programming

Interfacing assembly language routines with a high level language (e.g. C)

The Operation of Basic System Utilities - Assembler, linker & Loader

An Introduction to I/O Programming

• Accessing I/O devices and polled I/O
• Interrupt driven I/O
• Interrupt Controllers and the Interrupt Mechanism
• DMA and IO Channels

• An overview of Memory Module Design
• The principles of operation of Cache Memory
• The principles of operation of Virtual Memory Systems

• Overview of Control Unit Design - Hardwired vs
• Microprogrammed
• Arithmetic Logic Unit - Carry Prediction (at gate level)
• Pipelining - issues involved in Arithmetic and Instruction pipeline design
• CISC vs RISC

Through a study of the principle of operation of the various components of a computer system, the students will gain an appreciation of how the hardware will affect the development of software systems.

Students are exposed to the requirements for writing systems level software through the completing of programs which perform input - output operations involving both polled and interrupt driven input.

Preamble

This topic deals with practical methods for the derivation of a range of conceptual models and provides some emphasis on the relational model of data.

Abstraction and Modelling

Abstraction and modelling - classification, classes, types and instances, generalisation, inheritance, association and aggregation. Models as partial views providing particular perspectives - data, processes, objects, events and time, locations, user and organisational structures and roles, motivations and business purposes.

Semantic data modelling

Entity relationship modelling - entity types, relationship types and attribute types

The Relational Data Model

Transforming entity relationship models into relational models

Set theory

Relational structures - domains, base relations, virtual relations, tuples, attributes, candidate, primary and foreign keys

Relational integrity constraints - entity, referential and domain integrity

Relational manipulation operations - relational algebra and calculus

Normalisation

Anomalies caused by redundant data in relations

Functional dependency, normalisation and normal forms

The Structured Query Language

Data definition statements - create, drop, alter

Data manipulation statements - select, update, delete and insert

Access control statements - grant, revoke

This unit introduces the role of conceptual modelling as part of the system development process and introduces the basic notions of abstraction used in all forms of conceptual modelling. It places particular emphasis on modelling the data (static) aspects of applications, using entity relationship models and relational models. Normalisation is introduced as a basis for ensuring that relations do not contain redundant data. The Structured Query Language is introduced as a commonly used language with which to deal with relational databases.

Preamble

This topic deals with the organisation of sets of shared data for efficient query and update. It is necessary to develop an appreciation of the data resource and the issue of managing data. As well as the need to understand the technical background of computer system management of data there is also a need to define data needs, functions of data, user-oriented data languages, and the management of data and information within the organisation.

Table of Topics

File Processing

I/O operations

physical and logical files

buffer management

File Structure Concepts

file access

performance issues

indexed files

B-trees

indexed sequential access

B+trees

VSAM files

hashing

Schema Architecture

fact based

relational

hierarchical

network

Query Languages

foundations

query processing and optimisation

Concurrency Control

Crash Recovery and Transaction Management

5.4 Data Communications and Networks

Preamble

This unit describes the role of data communications in a modern technological environment and examines the design, implementation and management of data communications networks. It covers basic concepts and terminology; the International Standards Organisation reference model for open systems interconnection; communications equipment, software and services; network architectures; an overview of local area networks; Telstra facilities.

Table of topics

Context

Telecommunications is an increasingly important aspect of information technology -local, metropolitan and wide-area networks are shrinking the business world and all companies, regardless of their size, have become aware of the need to exchange electronic data across organisational and geographic boundaries.

5.5 Data Structures and Algorithms

Preamble

This unit deals with specific classes of problems and their efficient solutions. It includes algorithm design, complexity analysis, efficiency measurement and proof of correctness. Data structures should cover the storage and manipulation of data within memory and on external storage devices. There should be a coverage of simple and complex/structured data types, abstract data structures and file organisation and access methods. The unit is not specific to any programming language or paradigm.

Data Types

Simple data types

Numeric, text

Structured data types

Arrays, records

Abstract data types

Stacks, queues, linked lists, trees

File Organisation and Processing

serial/sequential files, indexed files, hash- addressed files

sequential and direct access methods

Typical Operations on Data Structures

construction

sorting, searching, indexing

updating - additions/deletions/amendments

Implementation/Representation

internal representation of data types

file index structures

treatment of collisions and overflow

The study of these topics should be related to the storage, manipulation and retrieval of data in typical working situations. There is no implied bias towards, for example, commercial as opposed to technical/scientific applications. The purpose of the unit is to ensure that an IT professional is aware of the alternatives available for data storage, processing and retrieval and their respective advantages and disadvantages and is able to choose an appropriate solution for a given problem situation.

While a detailed understanding of the algorithms associated with these procedures is essential, there is no presumption that a candidate has the knowledge of any specific programming language in which to implement them.

5.6 Discrete Mathematics

A study of discrete mathematics is an essential complement to any studies in information technology

Computer Arithmetic

Numbering systems e.g., decimal, binary, octal and hexadecimal

Set Theory

Definitions and notation

Venn diagrams

Set operations

The algebra of sets

Enumeration techniques

permutations and combinations

Inclusion/exclusion principle

Multinomial coefficients

Logic

Simple and compound propositions

Proposotional calculus

Truth tables

Properties of logic

Boolean Algebra

Axioms

Functions and their determination

Switching circuits and properties

Normal forms

Simplification of Boolean functions and networks

Graph Theory

Graphs

Euler and Hamiltonian graphs

Isomorphisms and isomorphic graphs

Planar graphs

Applications

Matrix Theory

Definition of a matrix

Basic operations and the algebra of matrices

Applications

Context

This unit is intended to consolidate mathematical knowledge necessary in areas of computing which require mathematical skills. It introduces students to selected topics in discrete mathematics essential to computing and computing applications.

Preamble

This unit covers the body of ideas and commonly held principles that broadly apply to ethical behaviour in the IT environment. The intent is to expose students to standards of professional behaviour and to encourage a commitment to developing a personal ethical framework. The unit has several purposes including:

1. An introduction to and critical review of the IT profession's Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct governing the behaviour of IT professionals;
2. A broad understanding of the impact of IT on society;
3. The importance of knowing one's belief system and values when reasoning confronting issues at the work place as a professional.

Introduction

What's Ethics got to do with me?

Social Issues

Culture and heritage

Culture and technology

Global issues

Organisational issues

Application of technology in Australian business

Ethical issues in private and public sectors

Technology

Belief Systems

The law and computer crime

Reliability, safety in software systems

Individual

Responsibility - personal and community

IT Professional Codes

ACS Code of Ethics

ACS Code of Conduct

The intent of this unit is to expose students to existing standards of professional behaviour and to encourage in them a feeling and personal responsibility towards a commitment to developing a personal ethical framework. It is unlikely that the topic can be treated as a theory unit. Case studies and current media related articles featuring potential ethical situations/dilemmas should be used to authenticate and support the unit's objectives.