Section outline

  • Course and Instructor Information

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    Instructor: Dr. Abdelli Djallel Eddine

    Target Audience: 1st-year Preparatory Class / École Polytechnique

    Fundamental Unit: UEM11
    Course Title: General Informatics

    Code: INF1
    Credits: 03
    Coefficient: 03
    Duration: 15 weeks

    Total Workload: 45 hours

    • Lectures (Cours): 22h30

    • Tutorials (TD): 18h00

    • Practical Labs (TP): 01h30

    Schedule:

    Lecture / Tutorial: Sunday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

    Room: M102

    Teaching Mode: In-person Lectures, Tutorials (TD), and Practical Labs (TP)

    Evaluation Method: Final examination and continuous assessment.

    Availability:

    • Office hours: Sunday, Wednesday,from 08:00 AM to 12:00 AM

  • 🎯 COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

     

    Learning Objectives

    1. Computer Architecture
    Understand the main components and organization of a computer system.

    2. Number Systems
    Perform conversions and arithmetic operations in bases 2, 8, and 16.

    3. Data Representation
    Understand integer, signed integer, and floating-point representations.

    4. Logic Circuits
    Analyze, simplify, design, and implement logic circuits.

    5. Integrated Circuits
    Get introduced to the principles and technology of integrated circuits.

    6. Problem Solving
    Analyze problems by identifying inputs, data, processes, and expected outputs.

    7. Algorithmic Thinking
    Design structured algorithms to solve computational problems.

    8. Implementation
    Translate algorithms into a target programming language.

  • 🔑 Prerequisites

    NO PREREQUISITES NEDDED.

  • INTRODUCTION

    Introduction to the Course

    Welcome to General Informatics.

    In today's world, computers are present in almost every field of science, engineering, industry, and everyday life. To use technology effectively, it is important not only to know how to operate a computer, but also to understand how a computer works, how it represents information, and how it solves problems.

    This course introduces you to the fundamental concepts of Computer Science. We will begin by exploring the structure and organization of computer systems, then learn how information is represented using binary, octal, and hexadecimal number systems. You will also discover how computers use Boolean algebra and logic circuits to process information.

    As we progress, we will study the Von Neumann model, which provides a fundamental understanding of how modern computers execute instructions. Finally, we will move from understanding computers to thinking like a computer scientist: analyzing problems, designing algorithms, and translating those algorithms into programs.

    The course follows a simple progression:

    Understand the Computer → Represent Information → Process Information → Analyze Problems → Design Algorithms → Implement Solutions

    By the end of the course, you should be able to look at a computational problem, understand what is required, design a logical solution, and translate that solution into a program.

    What you will develop

    • 🖥️ Understanding of computer systems

    • 🔢 Numerical and logical reasoning

    • 🧩 Problem-solving skills

    • 🧠 Algorithmic and computational thinking

    • 💻 Programming foundations

    The goal is not simply to learn how computers work—it is to learn how to think, analyze, and solve problems using computers.

    MIND MAP FOR THE COURSE

  • CHAPTER 1

  • FINAL EXAM