Please note:  This course will be a great deal of work for most students, there is a significant amount of material to cover and understand!  If you find yourself falling behind by even a couple of days do two things:  1.  get caught up  and  2. see me during office hours or by appointment.  Simply doing and saying nothing may seem like a good idea till it bears fruit at exam and final grade time!

Total semester points for this class: 740
Written midterm exam: 100 points
Lab midterm: 100 points
Lab project (due last Friday of last week of classes): 200 points
Final written comprehensive exam: 200 points
Attendance: 140 points

Each chapter from the lecture text will have a number of questions and/or problems assigned for completion as homework, either individually or in groups -- the choice is yours.  These problems reflect the focus of the chapter and on the key elements of what you must learn.  Whenever possible, we will review the problem solutions as a class.  Where this is not possible (unlikely), the solutions will be made available to you.  These problems are learning opportunities for you.  They will not be graded!  They will prepare you for the kinds of questions you will face during the exams.

Each of the lab periods will be assigned a section of the lab text.  I will introduce the sections where necessary, and then allow you to proceed with the lab text as your guide.  I will be available to provide assistance and/or answer questions during the lab time.  You will need to complete the sections during the allotted time, or complete them on your own time.  These labs are also learning opportunities for you! 
It has been my experience that the best kind of learning where software is concerned, is working through and understanding the necessary steps toward a goal.  The lab text has been selected in part because it accomplishes this very well.  Necessary background information and concepts are presented within the context of a Case.  The steps to completion are illustrated to guide your learning.  You will need to reflect this learning during the midterm lab exam, and in completion of the post-midterm  lab project. 
While the majority of the lab work you will perform will be using the computer, please become comfortable detailing and diagramming initial table requirements, etc. on paper.  This should be one of the first things you do both here in college and out in the work-world.  By doing this, you are detailing for yourself (and perhaps members of a team) some initial ideas and understanding of the requirements and elements of a project (assignment; system; etc.)