KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN MALAYSIA

Self Access Learning Module

ICT Literacy for

Secondary School
Programme

Computer Software

PUSAT PERKEMBANGAN KURIKULUM

KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN MALAYSIA
 ICTL for Secondary School – Computer Software Module

MODULE 1

Introduction to Computer Software

Curriculum Development Centre

Ministry of Education Malaysia

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 ICTL for Secondary School – Computer Software Module

1. Name of Module : Introduction to Computer Software

2. Learning Outcomes : The students should be able to

a. state the definition of software
b. state the usage of software
c. list different types of software

3. Knowledge and Skills

a. Definition of software
b. Know the usage of software
c. Give examples of types of software

4. Module Summary

At the end of the module, students should be able to define software, know the
usage of software and list down the different types of software

5. This module contains acitivities;

Activity 1: Definition of Software

Activity 2: Usage of Software
Activity 3: Types of Software

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 ICTL for Secondary School – Computer Software Module

Activity 1: Definition Of Software

Software is also called a computer program. It consists of a series of instructions that

tells the hardware of a computer what to do or how to do it. For example , some instruction
direct the computer to allow you to input data from a keyboard and store it in the memory.
Other instructions cause data stored in memory to be used in calculations.

Activity 2: Usage Of Software

Software is used so that you can interact with the program through its user interface. This
user interface controls how you enter data, instructions and how information is displayed on
the screen.

Activity 3: Types Of Software

There are two types of software

1. System Software
System Software is used to control and manage computer devices and operations. It
consists of :

o Operating System
ƒ A set of programs that coordinates all the activities among the computer
hardware devices

o Utility Programme
ƒ A type of system software that allows a user to perform maintenance-
type tasks

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 ICTL for Secondary School – Computer Software Module

Figure 1 show the some examples of system software

Operating System Utility Programme

Figure 1

2. Application Software
Application software are all programs that perform specific tasks for users, which include
word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation , e-Mail and Web browser
software. Examples of application software are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Outlook
Express and Internet Explorer.