Free Software and Social Development

Credits
6
Types
Elective
Requirements
This subject has not requirements , but it has got previous capacities
Department
AC
This course explains the historical development of free software, its causes and being reasons and the influence of this software in society.

Furthermore, the subject has a practical side where the economic possibilities and applications of Linux operating system and software development are explored and, at the same time, the generic skills essential for working in such environments are improved.

Teachers

Person in charge

Others

Weekly hours

Theory
2
Problems
0
Laboratory
2
Guided learning
0.28
Autonomous learning
5.72

Competences

Technical Competences

Common technical competencies

  • CT3 - To demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the organizational, economic and legal context where her work is developed (proper knowledge about the company concept, the institutional and legal framework of the company and its organization and management)
    • CT3.5 - To identify the use possibilities and benefits which can be derived from an application in the different business software typologies and existent ICT services.
    • CT3.6 - To demonstrate knowledge about the ethical dimension of the company: in general, the social and corporative responsibility and, concretely, the civil and professional responsibilities of the informatics engineer.
  • CT5 - To analyse, design, build and maintain applications in a robust, secure and efficient way, choosing the most adequate paradigm and programming languages.
    • CT5.5 - To use the tools of a software development environment to create and develop applications.

    • Technical Competences of each Specialization

    Information technology specialization

  • CTI1 - To define, plan and manage the installation of the ICT infrastructure of the organization.
    • CTI1.1 - To demonstrate understanding the environment of an organization and its needs in the field of the information and communication technologies.
  • CTI3 - To design solutions which integrate hardware, software and communication technologies (and capacity to develop specific solutions of systems software) for distributed systems and ubiquitous computation devices.
    • CTI3.1 - To conceive systems, applications and services based on network technologies, taking into account Internet, web, electronic commerce, multimedia, interactive services and ubiquitous computation.

    • Computer engineering specialization

  • CEC4 - To design, deploy, administrate and manage computer networks, and manage the guarantee and security of computer systems.
    • CEC4.1 - To design, deploy, administrate and manage computer networks.

    • Transversal Competences

    Sustainability and social commitment

  • G2 [Avaluable] - To know and understand the complexity of the economic and social phenomena typical of the welfare society. To be capable of analyse and evaluate the social and environmental impact.
    • G2.3 - To take into account the social, economical and environmental dimensions, and the privacy right when applying solutions and carry out project which will be coherent with the human development and sustainability.

    • Effective oral and written communication

  • G4 [Avaluable] - To communicate with other people knowledge, procedures, results and ideas orally and in a written way. To participate in discussions about topics related to the activity of a technical informatics engineer.
    • G4.3 - To communicate clearly and efficiently in oral and written presentations about complex topics, becoming adapted to the situation, the type of audience and the communication goals, using the strategies and the adequate means. To analyse, value and respond adequately to the questions of the audience.

    • Objectives

    1. Be able to explain the influence of free software in the society, economy and sustainability.
      Related competences: G4.3, CT3.6, CTI1.1, G2.3, CT3.5,
    2. Be able to explain the essential facts of the history of software from a social and ethical point of view.
      Related competences: G4.3, CT3.6, G2.3, CT3.5,
    3. Be able to develop and collaborate in developing a free software project using the most common tools in the environment.
      Related competences: CTI3.1, CT5.5, CTI1.1, CT3.5,
    4. Understand and be able to use free software tools to handle common tasks in the environment of SMEs.
      Related competences: CTI3.1, CEC4.1, CT5.5, CTI1.1, CT3.5,
    5. Be able to make a public presentation of an idea, project or study communicating your ideas and proposals in a clear, concise and effective way.
      Related competences: G4.3, CTI1.1, CT3.5,

    Contents

    1. Free Software and Linux.
      Description of free software and its history explaining the most important facts and analyzing their causes.
    2. Free Software and Society
      Influence of free software in society from an ethical, social, economic and environmental point of view.
    3. Basic administration of Linux operating system
      Explanation of the most common tools for administration (users, systems and network) of the Linux operating system.
    4. Development of free software.
      Explanation of the most common tools and environments used to develop software.
    5. Oral presentations.
      Basic tools to make effective oral presentations.

    Activities

    Activity Evaluation act


    Free Software

    Free Software
    Objectives: 1 2
    Contents:
    Theory
    8h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    0h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    10h

    Free Software and Society

    Free Software and Society
    Objectives: 1 2
    Contents:
    Theory
    8h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    0h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    8h

    Basic administration of Linux operating system

    Basic administration of Linux operating system
    Objectives: 3 4
    Contents:
    Theory
    0h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    13h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    18h

    Development of free software

    Development of free software
    Objectives: 3 4
    Contents:
    Theory
    0h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    15h
    Guided learning
    4.2h
    Autonomous learning
    21.8h

    How to make public presentations

    How to make public presentations
    Objectives: 5
    Contents:
    Theory
    2h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    0h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    0h

    Students public presentations

    Students public presentations
    Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5
    Contents:
    Theory
    10h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    0h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    20h

    Theoretical Test

    Theoretical Test
    Objectives: 1 2
    Week: 14
    Theory
    0h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    0h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    0h

    Practical Test

    Practical Test
    Objectives: 3 4
    Week: 14
    Theory
    0h
    Problems
    0h
    Laboratory
    0h
    Guided learning
    0h
    Autonomous learning
    0h

    Teaching methodology

    The students will perform al laboratories all those tasks to the practices that they are expected learn. The lectures will introduce the use of social software and its implications and intend to help them develop critical thinking towards decisions to be taken in their work.

    In addition students must make a public presentation and develop a free software project idea.

    Evaluation methodology

    The course is evaluated through theoretical and practical tests, laboratory practices and the public presentation/software project by the following formula:

    NF = 0,35 * Prac + 0,3 * (Pres + Proj) + 0,175 * TT + 0,175 * PT

    The practical test takes place in the last lab class and the students would be able to use a computer.

    Bibliography

    Basic

    Previous capacities

    The student should have basic programming and system administration skills.