Hi!
My name John and I believe it's important that Engineers should be able to program a computer as well as be able to use a computer. I call it being able to "drive a computer", which implies control and mastery over the computer as a tool. In professional programming circles such a user would be referred as a "power user" to differentiate them from "users".
Not convinced it's so important! Well take AutoCad 2000 for example, at my last count there is something like five or six scripting, macro, conventional and non-conventional programming languages included in the package that can be used to achieve objectives only limited by the users ability and, very importantly, creativity. In addition many of the files that control the way AutoCad executes and the files generated that describe what has been drawn, can all be pulled up in your favourite editor and changed. You will get some exposure to this in Cad C.
On to business. In the first course we addressed anti-virus protection, backing up onto to a zip drive, and gave you the obligitory introduction to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). You also established a Geocities website and posted your resume, some other examples of your work and a favourite pic or two. And finally, you made a simple adding program using the QBasic programming language (which was not so simple by the time we finished ensuring it was fully documented, modular, user friendly and all the rest of it!).
Perhaps you got an exemption because you already have had exposure to computing somewhere else. Great! I hope you will share some of some of your knowledge and experience with the rest of the class.
What will we do this Semester? Well, we will extend our Basic language programming skills and learn to apply them in the Visual Basic programming enviroment provided in Excel. The focus on writing quality, re-usable code that complies with modern programming principles to solve engineering problems utilising the practical advantages of the Excel spreadsheet will stand you in good stead wherever your career or computing interests take you.
Worried? Don't be. We will all work together to get through. you may not be one of the more computer experienced students who may get an A pass. But if your do your best and attend regularly, everyone will kick in to help you pass.