CS 130 Visual Basic 2005
Course Outline
University of Idaho

Course Title: Programming with Visual Basic 2005    
Course Number: CS 130-01                               
Credits: Three (3) Semester Credits  

Contact Information

Instructor: Rhonda Zenner                    
Computer Science Dept.                                          Phone: 885-6589
   Room JEB 236                                                        FAX: 885-9052
College of Engineering                             

Email: rzenner@uidaho.edu (questions or leave message)
Website: www.webs1.uidaho.edu/rzenner

Textbook:  Starting out with Visual Basic 2005
                     Author:  Gaddis & Irvine        
                     Publisher: Pearson / Addison-Wesley
                     Edition: 3rd     Year: 2007
                     Available at UI Bookstore: ISBN:  0-321-50069-5 
                         (Note: This comes packaged with extra tutorial CD - not required)
                     OR: ISBN: 978-0-321-39399-6 (no tutorial CD)

NOTE: Both book options come with Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition CD-ROM, which you will need to load on your computer in order to do your work.  The book also comes with a lesson CD that you will need to download as well so that you can do your homework assignments.

Supplies:  3-ring binder notebook to keep your work together since you can use your notes and homework during your exams.

Grading:   50% Assignments
                    50% Exams and Project
 
Homework: There are assignments in the textbook for each lesson in this course.  Assignments consist of:

·    Review Questions & Exercises – at the end of each chapter, you will be assigned a variety of questions from this sections. Please type the answers to all of the assigned problems and submit them directly to your instructor along with your programming challenges.  No credit will be given for handwritten work (unless it is a chart or output cannot be typed).  Points: ½ point per question. 

      HINT: You will be able to use your notes and graded homework during your exams so you may want to also include the questions, or a form of the question, with your answers.

·    Programming Challenges –at the end of each chapter, you will be assigned programming challenge exercises designed to solidify your knowledge of the topics within the chapter. Points: vary with the level of difficulty.

Final Project: You will be responsible for designing a VB executable program based on your area of study/interest.  More details on this requirement will be provided later in the class but you should be thinking about what you want to design.  You may also want to visit with your advisor or major professor as to suggestions.  This should be the "end" goal of this class.  Points: 100 points

Exams: There will be 2 exams throughout the semester, as well as a final.  All three exams are 150 points each and carry equal weight. 

Supplemental Help within the Visual Basic 2005 Book:

·    Tutorials - each chapter has several "blue-highlighted" tutorials that reinforce the chapter's topics.  These will help you to understand the material.  They will also provide you with hands-on experience that will be instrumental when you do the programming challenge exercises.

·    Checkpoints - there are questions placed at intervals throughout each chapter that are designed to check your knowledge and comprehension of the material just learned.

·    Notes and Tips - there are short explanations throughout the chapter of interesting or potentially misunderstood points relevant to the topic.  There are also tips to help with learning the best techniques for approaching different programming problems.  Both Notes and Tips will appear as boxed items within the regular text of the book.

·    Warnings - these are here to caution you about certain Visual Basic 2005 features, programming techniques, or practices that can lead to malfunctioning programs or loss of data.