COMPUTING SKILLS FOR ECONOMICS

The course is one of the activities of the degree course in Economics that allows students to improve knowledge for data management through ad-hoc software and for reporting.
The aim of the course is to provide the basic informatic knowledge in order to let students develop the skills to structure, process, analyse data, disclose information using informatic tools.
To this goal the students will be introduced to R software and reporting techniques.

Frontal lectures and laboratory will allow students:

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 To know the basic computer terminology for both the hardware and software
1.2 To to recognize the logical-formal structure of a problem

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 To use basic terminology correctly
2.2 To formalize a problem by constructing a suitable algorithm
2.3 To use dedicated software for the analysis of economic-business data

3. Making judgements
3.1 To apply the computerized procedures during the economic decision process.

Fulfillment of OFAs (Additional Learning Requirements) according to http://www.unive.it/pag/32221/ . Students must know the fundamental of Mathematics even without passing the exam.

Part I - Computer
- Von Neuman Architecture
- Computer hardware
- Computer software
- Introduction to Boolean Algebras and binary language

Part II - From problems to solutions
- Defining the problem and identification of variables
- Encoding of a problem in pseudo-code
- Conditional expressions
- Iterative structures ("for" and "while")
- Implementation of a pseudo code

Part III - Introduction to the use of spreadsheets and the R language
- Data collection and their organization in data-sheet with Excel
- The tabular representation of one or more collected variables
- Graphical representation of data sets and reporting.

Dal Problema alla soluzione. Guida pratica per principianti alla programmazione in R (2024), F. Parpinel, C. Pizzi Giappichelli Editore.

Supplementary readings:

- e-learning course web page: https://moodle.unive.it/course/view.php?id=17325
- Elementi di Informatica per l’Economia, Custom Publishing, F. Luccio, McGraw-Hill Create, capp. 1, 2.

The method that will be used to assess the knowledge and skills acquired is written exam with computer by moodle.
The written exam will consist of two parts:
- a first part with maximum 15 multiple-choice questions as barrier in order to test the mastery of a minimum set of basic knowledge. Students who correctly answer with grade at least 8/15 will be admitted to the second part.
- a second part of 2 practical exercises both to test the acquirement of the topics presented during the lessons and the familiarity with R.

Each test will weigh 50% in the final evaluation.

The course consists of frontal lessons, using R software and teaching modules available on the moodle.unive.it e-learning platform.
Students must register for the moodle platform and computer will be required during the lessons.

The proper use of the university e-learning platform is required (https://moodle.unive.it/course/view.php?idnumber=17325 )

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion
Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments

Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

written and oral