DOCUMENT RESUME ED 041 125 VT 011 268 TITLE Computer Systems Operator, A SuggestedInstructor's Guide. INSTITUTION Institute of Computer Technology,Washington, D.C. SPONS AGENCY Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, D.C. Div, of Manpower Development and Training. PUB DATE 69 NOTE 185p. FDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$0.75 HC-$9.35 DESCRIPTORS *Adult Vocational Education, BusinessEducation, Computers, Cooperative Education,*Curriculum Guides, *Data Processing Occupations,*Educationally Disadvantaged, *Program Guides, Trainees IDENTIFIERS *Manpower Development And TrainingAct Programs, MDTA Programs ABSTRACT School administrators, teachers, andbusinessmen will find this work-study guideuseful in developingcourses to teach the disadvantaged to be operatorsof automatic data processing equipment. Fourteencourse units cover fundamental principler, of programing, specificprograms such as FORTRAN and COBOL, and the skills required for the position.Each unit outlines training time, objectives, and the basiccourse material, and includes when available teaching aids, instructorreference materials and suggested trainee activities and materials.Sections of the guideare devoted to sources of visual aids, occupationalinformation, trainee qualifications, and suggestions forcourse organization and operation. A glossary anda bibliography are included. Appendedare suggested equipment and supply lists anda training facility plan, and sample forms and records.(JS) 1*. COMPUTER SYSTEMS OPERATOR A Suggested Instructor's Guide I a OA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECES- SARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU- * CATION POSITION OR POLICY. Department of Health, Educations and Welfare Robert H. Finch, Secretary Office of Education James H. Allen, Commissioner uo Manpower Development and Training Program Developed pursuant to a contract with the Office of Education Division of Manpower Development andTraining U. S. Department of Health, Educationand Welfare by The Institute of Computer Technology, Inc. Washington, D. C. 1969 ii FOREWORD After the end of World. War II there occtareda population, technolo- gical, and information explosion bringing aboutcontinuing and relentless pressures.Each has resulted in its benefits and attendant problems and offers great potential for new solutions. The deluge of forms, reports, and statistics caused by theinforma- tion explosion has resulted in the growing scienceor art of data procesr. sing.The only tool capable of containing and threcting the impact ofthe huge mass of data now available is theuse of the electronic computer. As with all new technologies, thisone, also, demands craftsmen skilled in the use of the equipment designed to meet its demands.New and rapid- ly growing jobs, both professional and skilled, gearedto programming and operating the electronic computers havecome .`nto being. In earlier years of this emerging field, the emphasis in seiectin.g' trainees was directed toward the college graduates witha background in mathematics and science.As the field of electronic computers developed, however, it became apparent that this level of background trainingwas not necessary for operators.Other more basic abilitieswere identified as necessary for success.The rapid increase in the number ofcompu- ters and the urgent need for capable operators hastened the change. Experience in the last several years has indicated that the educati- onally and culturally disadvantaged segments of the populationcan provide a significant number of persons with both the aptitude and motivation need- ed to succeed as operators.The move from the ranks of the disadvanta- ged to that of gainful employment is noteasy, but the rewards are signi- ficant and worthwhile for both the individual andour society. This instructor's guide was prepared to assist in developingcourses and instructing disadvantaged trainees ina new and needed skill through programs uncle:c. the Manpower Development and Training Act and other related programs. Howard A. Matthews, Director Division of Manpower Development and Training ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The U. S. Office of EducationsDivision of Manpower Development and Training, recognizes thevaluable contributions made in the prepara- tion of this publication by the AdvisoryCommittee who have achieved re- cognition in the computer systems field.The suggestions furnished and the detailed review of this publicationundertaken by them is hereby acknow- ledged.They are as follows: james M. Adams, Jr. Paul Howerton Director of Education formerly Director, Client Services Association for Computing MachineryEBS Management Consultants, Inc. New York, New York Washington, D. C. Robert Breimann Richard C. Lemons, President Director of Data Processing Technical Information Services Co. City of Alexandria, A Subsidiary of Informatics, Inc. Alexandria, Virginia Bethesda, Maryland Paul Reimers Coordinator of Information Systems Library of Congress Washington, D. C. The guide was developed by theInstitute of Computer Technology, Incorporated, pursuant to a contract withthe Office of Education.Charles Agre of the Institute served as ProjectDirector.The course materials were selected, prepared,and written by James B. Hodgson, Jr. TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv PURPOSE OF THE GUIDE 1 OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION 2 Job Description 3 Employment Opportunities 4 Security Requirements r '6 TRAINEE QUALIFICATIONS 6 Age 6 Education 6 Physical ReTiirements 7 Personal Qualities 8 ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE COURSE 8 Staff Qualifications 8 Training Fac.lity Considerations 9 The Advisory Committee 10 Teachiug the Course 11 Managing the Work Experience Program 12 Placement 13 Guidance and Counseling 15 Records 16 Length of Course and Course Units 17 Master Schedule 19 COURSE UNITS I. Electronic Accounting Machines and Punchcard Principles 21 II. Fundamentals of Computer Operations 29 III. Card Operations 35 Utility Applications and Elementary Programming 49 V. Larger Stored Program Computers 63 y10 Introduction to Computer of Specialization 73 VII. Operating Systems 79 VIII. FORTRAN and COBOL 85 IX. Advanced Systems 93 X. Data Processing Organization and Management 99 XI, Job Orientation, Guidance, Counseling, and Evaluation 107' XII. Cooperative Work Experience 115 XIII. Communications Skills 119 XIV. Mathematics Skills 129 ,.. GLOSSARY 13',6 BIBLIOGRAPHY 157 VISUAL AIDS 166 APPENDICES A.Equipment and.Supplies 175 B.Suggested Training Facilities 177 C.Sample Handouts 178 D. Forms and Records 183 fi SPECIAL NOTE:Not all of the pages were used.The arrangement was chosen for the convenience of instructors so that theunits could be disassembled conveniently and distributed among instructors. Therefore, a number of pages are blank: (20, 28,3,4.40, 48, 62, 78, 84, Aid.114) and have not been included in the total page count for the purpose of computing the deliverable copies:6 + 187- 9 =184 page impressions. vi COMPUTER SYSTEMS OPERATOR PURPOSE 01, THE GUIDE This course guide offers assistance to those who wish to establish a cooperative occupational t:aining program for operators of automatic data processing equipment. It is especially geared to show how educationally disadvantaged per- sons can be trained for jobs in the data processing field under the Manpower Development and Training Act and other types of occupational training programs.The guide is directed both to the administrators of such train- ing projects and to the instructors who will handle the classroom and labo- ratory work, coordinate the cooperative work experience with employers, and generally maintain the direct contact with the trainees. The training program may be set up within the framework of voca- tional education offered by an already existing training institution, such as the public school system, or by a new institution.In any case, the direct involvement of government, business and industry must be enlisted early in the development of plans to insure that the facilities available for training will be adequate, and that there will be jobs for the trainees at the end of the course. While the training program outlined in the guide assumes that the trainees will be educationally disadvantaged, those preparing to put the program into operation must be cautioned to exercise spe,-,dal care in trainee Selection, as outlined 1n the TRAINEE QUALIFICATIONS, ne g e 6,, The computer industry is a demanding one.Job requirements vary widely, from the sole operator of a small computer installation with punched card support equipment, to the operator of a large computer system engaged in teleprocessing.Formal education aside, the industry still requires cer- tain basic aptitudes from its operators.Modern data processing equipment represents a substantial investment, and errors and breakdowns in the equipment caused by a lack of basic ability on the part of the operator can- not be overlooked.Such mistakes are costly.To put a person without the requisite ability through the training is a disservice to the individual. Administrators developingprogram for the disadvantaged, therefore, should be conservative in their attempts to recruit into the computer operator training program those persons who may not have the necessary aptitudes. in addition to being a specific guide for preparing educationally disadvantaged for the automation work force, this guide should be generally useful to the burgeoning