Syllabus for IST-160

Rappahannock Community College

Course of study for Visual Basic Programming

Course IST 160-71 & 161-71

Instructor, Robert Lay

KGHS Campus

Spring, 2002

 

Course description  

 

This course will teach programming of Windows applications with emphasis on the fundamentals of programming. No previous programming experience is required. The language will be Visual Basic 6.0, and the course will include problem solving, top down, structured programming, integration of Graphical User Interface (GUI) with functionality and the concept of  “code a little, test a little” debugging.  Computer Laboratory work is included in the formal class activities. This course is the first semester of a two semester course in Visual Basic Programming.

 

Course credit  4 Credits, total.

 

Instructor Accessibility and Office Hours

 

The instructor will hold general office hours during lab. The instructor will make every effort to accommodate any requests for one-on-one counseling. Individual tutoring will not be available, except as is appropriate during lab to the benefit of all attendees. Requests for individual counseling may be made informally, at any time. My home telephone number, e-mail address and Web site will be found at the end of this document.

 

Method(s) of instruction:

 

Four instructional methods will be utilized in this class, as follows:

 

1.         Studying the assigned chapters prior to class.

2.         Course lecture, including recitation and question/answer.

3.         Laboratory exercises from the book.

4.         Directed group exercises using the computer lab facilities.

 

Instructional Materials

 

Textbook – “PROGRAMMING IN VISUAL BASIC 6.0 UPDATE EDITION WITH CD, Fourth Edition”

Authors:

Julia Case Bradley

Anita C. Millspaugh, Mt. San Antonio College

ISBN: 0-07-251874-X
Description: ©2002
Publication Date: October 2001

 

Course Objectives

 

To provide the student with an introduction to computer programming in and for the Windows environment using the Visual Basic Integrated Development Environment, or “Visual Studio”.


 

Learning Sequence

 

 

Week 1: 1/14/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 1-22, Lab assignment: Pages 47-49

 

Week 2: 1/21/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 22-44,  Lab assignment: Pages 47-49, H/W 1.1

 

Week 3: 1/28/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 51-65, Lab assignment: Pages 80-84, H/W 2.2

 

Week 4: 2/4/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 66-80, Lab assignment: Pages 80-86, H/W 2.5

 

Week 5: 2/11/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 87-100, Lab assignment: Pages 120-125, H/W 3.3

 

Week 6: 2/18/2002  - Reading Assignment: Pages 100-118, Lab assignment: Pages 120-125, Review for Midterm Pages 1 - 80

 

Week 7: 2/25/2002  - Reading Assignment: Pages 127-147, Lab assignment: Mid Term Exam

 

Week 8: 3/4/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 147- 167, Lab assignment: Pages 167-171, H/W 4.3

 

Spring Break – 3/11 through 3/16

 

Week 9: 3/18/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 173-196, Lab assignment: Pages 207-212, H/W 5.2

 

Week 10: 3/25/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 196-207, Lab assignment: Pages 207-212, H/W 5.4

 

Week 11: 4/1/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 213-228, Lab assignment: Pages 247-250, H/W 6.2

 

Week 12:  4/8/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 228-247, Lab assignment: Pages 247-250, H/W 6.4

 

Week 13: 4/15/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 251-269, Lab assignment: Pages 286-292, H/W 7.1

 

Week 14: 4/22/2002 - Reading Assignment: Pages 269-286, Lab assignment: Pages 286-292, H/W 7.3

 

Week 15: 4/29/2001 - Reading Assignment: Pages 292-326 Lab assignment: Pages 326-332, H/W 8.3

 

Week 16: 5/6/2001 FINAL EXAM

 

Grading/Evaluation

 

Homework Assignments or Lab Assignments are considered the same for purposes of grades. Homework or Lab Assignments may be performed either in the classroom facilities or elsewhere at the student’s discretion.

 

Homework Assignments will be assigned for most sessions of the class. The Homework Assignment for a given session will be announced at least one week prior to its nominal due date. Each Homework Assignment specifies the questions, exercises, etc., to be submitted for that Homework Assignment. Each Homework Assignment is nominally due at the end of the session for which the Homework Assignment is scheduled.

 

It is suggested that students provide themselves with at least two 3.5" diskettes so that they have one to work with and one that has been submitted for acceptance. Homework diskettes will be returned in the session following submittal. The files to be submitted for grading should include all form files (*.FRM),   project files (*.VBP),  and any module files (*.BAS), class files (*.CLS) or form extension files (*.FRX) needed. Also to be included are the written answers to any questions assigned from the text book. Homework Assignments may also be submitted as e-mail attachments, addressed to the instructor’s e-mail address found at the end of this document.

 

The absolute deadline for submitting any Homework Assignment is one week from the time it was nominally due. No Homework Assignments will be accepted for credit after that deadline.

 

Complete Homework Assignments will be either accepted or rejected – no partial credit will be given. Each Homework Assignment for a given session is treated as a single unit for purpose of acceptance and scoring. The final score to be credited will be based on the number of completed Homework Assignments that are submitted and accepted divided by the total number of Homework Assignments assigned.  No partial credit will be given for the individual questions or exercises within a Homework Assignment. The entire Homework Assignment must be submitted and accepted in order to receive credit for that assignment.

 

When  the instructor finds that the Homework Assignment is not acceptable, he may ask the student to correct any identified deficiencies and re-submit that assignment with a new schedule for completion. The instructor also has the option of declaring an assignment as acceptable with minor deficiencies noted.

 

Accepted Homework Assignments make up 40% of the total grade.

Midterm Exam makes up 30% of the total grade

Final Exam makes up 30% of the total grade

 

For example, assume that 12 Homework Assignments are assigned during the semester and the student submits 10 Homework Assignments, all of which are marked as complete and accepted. The student would receive a Homework score of  83%, which would then be weighted according to the above schedule.

 

Nominal grade scale:

91 – 100%  A

81 –  90%   B

71 –  80%  C

61 –  70%  D

0     60%  F

 

After the Homework and examination scores have been combined according to the weighting schedule, the final letter grade will be assigned according to the above grade scale.

 

Attendance Policy

 

Class Attendance will be checked at the beginning of each class. Students arriving late to class are responsible for ensuring that their attendance has been noted.

 

80 % attendance  is the overall minimum acceptable attendance required for credit (i.e., total unexcused absences of 20%). If any student must be absent for a valid reason (illness, business travel, etc), that student must submit a written request explaining the basis for the absence in order for the instructor to consider excusing the absence. The instructor may then prescribe make up work in lieu of attendance or excuse the absence at his discretion.

 

 Basis for Evaluation and Revision of Course

 

Students will be provided with an anonymous survey questionnaire at the end of the course that will ask each student to evaluate the instructor and  the course, and make comments and suggestions.  Survey results will be used to revise and improve the course.

 

 Honor Code and Instructor Withdrawal Policy (catalog, pp. 32-35)

 

Rappahannock Community College has an Honor System whose purpose is to strengthen the student’s foundations for academic achievement by establishing guidelines for personal conduct.

 

It is the responsibility of students to be aware of the rules (refer to your college catalog) and to monitor the activities of their peers with respect to the Honor Code and report any violations thereof.

 

The instructor can withdraw any student who misses 20 percent or more of the total class periods through the first nine weeks of the semester without the consent of the student (see college catalog).

 

The last day to withdraw without penalty or to change to audit is March 19, 2002. The last day to drop the course or to change from audit to credit is January 22, 2002.

 

Emergency Evacuation Plan

 

In each classroom, laboratory or other places where students are assembled for the purpose of instruction, a fire evacuation plan will be posted indicating the direction of travel from the room in the event it becomes necessary to evacuate the building as a result of fire or other emergency.  This plan will be posted in a conspicuous place near the exit from the room.

 

At any time the fire alarm sounds, the building will be evacuated.  The instructor will ensure the fire door is closed upon leaving the area. (doors with automatic closures on them).  Instructors are also responsible for assisting disabled students.

 

If a classroom does not have an evacuation plan posted, the campus director, the KGHS administrator Caroline Mack, or her designee, should be notified.

 

Prohibited Items and Activities

 

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on school premises. Cell Phones, Pagers and Beepers are not permitted in the school building.

 

Communications:

E-mail  w9dmk@crosslink.net

Web Site: http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

Tel: (540) 663-9290

Information Bulletins: Point your browser – http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

REL 1/14/2002