Visual Basic Programming
Fall 2008 Syllabus

CIS257-01 Tuesday and Thursday 2:00p-3:30p in Alger 101

Instructor: Richard W Evans
Home Office 401-946-6900 (9:00a - 6:00p)
Campus Office: Alger 229, phone 401-456-9592
E-Mail: revans@ric.edu

Messages can be left at the voice number. If you get my voice mail, please leave your message or question. I will be available before class in the classroom to answer questions or lend assistance. In case of bad weather call 456-9500 for a recorded message.

Text:
Visual Basic 2008 for Windows, Mobile, Web, Office, and Database Applications: Comprehensive

Gary B. Shelly, Corinne Hoisington
ISBN 13: 978-1-4239-2716-7 © 2009
ISBN 10: 1-4239-2716-8
Publish date: July 7, 2008

Course Overview:
This course is an introduction to the Visual Basic programming language and environment. The emphasis in this course is developing applications for use in business in a Windows environment. You will learn the correct ways to design and write programs using Visual Basic 2008. The goal of the text is to provide an comprehensive-level course in computer programming for students with little or no previous programming experience. During the course you will use controls and assign properties to them, code selection and repetition structures, use control and variable arrays, and write programs that use sequential and random files. GUI design skills will be emphasized to create the typical application interfaces encountered in the MS Windows applications.

Goals:
Students will be able to analyze, design and develop solutions to business problems using Microsoft Visual Basic 2008.
Students will have a basic understanding of computer hardware and software and their interrelationship.
Students will have a basic level of competency in logic skills.

Course Format:
Expect a lecture on new material each session following the textbook as outlined in the calendar below. Since assignments and quizzes must be completed outside of the regular weekly class, students should expect to spend from four to eight hours per week using the computer labs or their own equipment at home. This includes the time needed for study, reading and review of the text and review of notes taken during class.

All classes are held in Alger. Computer Labs in other buildings are available to you outside of class to complete homework assignments. You are expected to procure a copy of Visual Studio 2008 from the College Bookstore for use at home. At last check the multi-disk package is $24. Check with the bookstore for the latest price.

Although the text is quite thorough, attendance in the classroom will be critical for you to learn about these applications. Some of the learning experience however will entail your concentrated effort with the computer -- learning by trying, and by making mistakes. Class meetings will involve presentation of new material and discussion of prior work. For each of the applications, there will be assignments to be completed by you. Most of these assignments are to be completed outside of the regular class times. In addition, in class lab assignments will be given where you will do the work with the instructor in attendance to provide assistance.

I encourage the tendency for "group study"; and to make sure that each of you does in fact get familiar with the materials, I plan to give two hands on exams. The exams will be on the computers and open book. The results will be turned in through WebCT and/or on removable media.

Writing Requirement
The School of Management is committed to the enhancement of writing skills as a means to equip its business graduates. Therefore, all assignments will be graded on spelling and grammar. I will take up to 10 points off for spelling errors and poor grammar on all assignments. If you have difficulty in this area, I suggest having someone else proofread your work before handing it in. OASIS can help in this area -- http://www2.ric.edu/oasis/

WebCT by Blackboard
You will be expected to access the WebCT Learning Management System at RIC. PowerPoint's will be posted on the WebCT site after each lecture is given. Exams, quizzes, and assignments will be found on WebCT. An FAQ page and a number of White Papers will answer many of your questions about the course and using WebCT. You are expected to check into WebCT daily to retrieve emails and access the information I will make available to you. The following links may be useful to get to know WebCT:

Technical Requirements http://www2.ric.edu/uss/webct_techRequirements.php 
Logging in Issues http://www2.ric.edu/uss/webct_logonTrouble.php 
WebCT FAQs http://www2.ric.edu/uss/webct_studentFaq.php

The Student Toolbox is another great source of WebCT material and other information about technology and other RIC information. http://www.ric.edu/studenttoolbox

The URL to access WebCT directly is http://webct.ric.edu:8900  OR you can open http://www.ric.edu  > Online Services > WebCT. I suggest you bookmark the link for easy access on your computer.

To use WebCT, be sure to have pop-up blockers turned off. The browser you use is important and IE6 or better works well. There is an option on WebCT to check your browser for compatibility and I suggest you do the check before using it. We will be using IE7 in class.

Grading Policy:
I plan to assign a number of homework and in class lab assignments which will be considered in your grade. Each carries a weight of 100 points. Additional homework and extra credit work may be assigned and will be averaged in to the overall homework grade. The homework grade average cannot exceed 100 points.

I take points off for spelling errors and poor grammar on all assignments. If you have difficulty in this area, I suggest having someone else proofread your work before handing it in.

All assignments are due before class on the due date. Turing in an assignment during class may result in an automatic zero. If a late submission date is assigned to an assignment, it is due at 11:00 pm on that date. In general, any assignment will either be done correctly or not (100 or 0 points). However, the following might occur for the reasons given.

Deduct up to 5 points for each mistake made, including spelling, grammar, etc.  If the assignment is passed in after the beginning of class, even though the same day, it is considered as late. Late assignments will receive a maximum of 70 points if turned in no later than the late date listed on the assignment. Work received after the late date will receive a grade of 0.  Of course, failure to turn in an assignment will produce a 0. I may elect to return an assignment to you with a RESUBMIT or FIX request. I expect you to correct the problems and return the assignment as an email attachment by 11:00 pm on the requested date for an increased grade, otherwise your grade on the assignment will be as given. If I have not requested you fix the assignment you will not be re-graded even if you do so on your own. Usually a grade of 90 or better will not result in a fix request. Failure to show up at class because you are working on your assignment in the Lab or working on and submitting during class will result in a 0 for the assignment -- easily determined by the time you submit your work.

All grades are posted weekly on WebCT. This will be explained in class.  

I plan to give no less than two exams that will count for 40% of your grade. All will be hands on problems to solve with Visual Basic 2008 using what you have learned. Relative to exams, my make-up policy is that you may make-up only one missed exam; and the arrangements for that make-up must be made no later than the next class meeting. The last exam cannot be made up.

Lab assignments will be given for the lab session each week. These are done in class and are worth 100 points each. Lab work completed at home will receive up to the 100 points. Lab work done at home instead of coming to class will receive no more than 70 points.

Additional points may be taken away at my discretion, perhaps to react to issues of attitude and tardiness. The sum total of all homework plus extra credit work will not exceed 100 points. Grading is:

D-	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A
60-62	63-66	67-69	70-72	73-76	77-79	80-82	83-86	87-89	90-92	93-100

The grade of A is awarded to those individuals who have demonstrated excellence in all regular assignments and have participated in class and in any extra credit assignments that may be handed out.

Late Registrations:
New students will be accepted into the class up to the final add date if there is room in the class. However, all work assigned since the first class period is due when due. Exceptions will not be made for late arrivals. Any quizzes or exams given during the missed classes may not be made up. The responsibility is on the student to find out what was missed and catch up by getting the lecture material from another student or from files that might be posted on WebCT.

Withdrawals:
Requests to withdraw from this class after the drop period has ended will not be granted.

Anticipated Topics to be Covered:
This list consists of the chapters in the textbook. How far we get in the textbook will depend upon the progress made in the class. I will modify the calendar to fit the course. But we will cover no less than the first 8 chapters. The remainder of the book will be covered in the advanced course--CIS357.