EFL: Advanced IT

This course is designed for students with a good basic understanding of English who would like to use their time in Cambridge to learn advanced computer and IT skills.

Pre-requisits: A good basic understanding of English and you should have some good computer skills and be able to use a keyboard and mouse. You should be able to use the Internet and web, find your way around Microsoft Office and have a general interest in IT.

Advanced IT covers the following topics:

• Introduction: A brief overview of computers, hardware and software which aims to give you a basic understanding and give you the chance to learn and practise common IT words and vocabulary. We will also have a look at networking, the Internet and web technologies and create a simple web page with HTML and CSS.
• System Administration with Linux:
  • Installation: How to install Linux on your computer either as the only operating system or as a dual-boot system with Windows.
  • Using Linux for day to day tasks: Office, email, web and image manipulation
  • Keeping your system secure and up-to-date: Configuration tools and options
  • Saving time with the command line: Automatic backups, batch-processing files and common commands
  • Installation and configuration of the Apache web server
• Database design and administration with MySQL:
  • Structure your data for integrity and speed: Database design, normalization and denormalization.
  • How to configure your database server for increased performance.
  • Introduction to SQL: Use SQL to create databases and tables, learn MySQL's data types and how to use them and how to get data into and out of your database.
• Introduction to programming with PHP:
  • How PHP works: Interaction between web server, database, PHP and the browser.
  • Basic programming techniques: Variables and arrays
  • Control structures: Conditional statements and loops
  • Handling user submitted data: Processing form input and using URLs
  • Structuring your code: Creating functions
  • Using built in functions and funtionality: Uploading and reading files
  • Databases: Connecting to MySQL and receiving and storing data
  • Putting it all together: Creating a dynamic web site with PHP

At the end of the course you should have a good understanding of the most important aspects of IT, you should be able to run a Linux server, create databases and create advanced web sites with PHP.

If this sounds too advanced for you, you might be interested in our IT for Beginners course for EFL students.