CSIS 1560: BASIC Programming

Instructor:
Dr. John R. Sullins
Office hours: MWF 9:15-10:00, MW 3:00-4:00, W 3:15-5:00, or by appointment
Office: 333 Meshel Hall
Phone: 742-1806
Email: john@cis.ysu.edu
Web site: http://cis.ysu.edu/~john/
    Be sure to check the web site regularly, as assignments and announcements will be posted here.

Objectives:
This course is meant to introduce you to
    1. programming concepts (objects and variables, program flow, functions, and data types),
    2. principles of structured programming (including modular design, user interface design, debugging, and documentation),
    3. the Visual Basic programming language and development environment.
Prerequisite:
MATH 1500 or some equivalent experience with the concept of a variable. It is also assumed that you are familiar with  basic computer concepts (manipulating files and directories, utilizing Web sites, etc.).
Textbook:
Introduction to Computer Programming with Visual Basic 6: A Problem-Solving Approach, Alk Harriger, Susan Lisack, John Gotwals, and Kyle Lutes, Que Education and Training.
Note that this edition includes a student version of Visual Basic, which you are encouraged to install on your computer.
Grading:
     
    Programming assignments 45%  (6-7 biweekly assignments) 
    Exam 1 15% Wed., Oct. 11
    Exam 2  15% Mon., Nov. 13
    Final 25%  Mon., Dec. 11, 8-10 (section 0609)
    Wed., Dec. 13, 10:30-12:30 (section 0610)
                Last day to withdraw with a "W": Saturday, Oct. 28
Lab work:
    The Friday labs will be used to introduce you to features of the Visual Basic environment, to demonstrate coding and debugging techniques, and to implement example programs demonstrating concepts introduced earlier in the week.
Programming Assignments:
    Programming assignments will be handed out roughly every other week, and will cover concepts introduced in class.
    You may use the Visual Basic tools available in the labs to do these assignments , or you may do them at home if you install the working version of Visual Basic on the CD-ROM in your textbook. Either way, you will be required to turn the final programs in to me on diskette, so you will need several of those.

    Note that you will be expected to do most of the work on the programming assignments outside of class/lab time. Expect to spend at least 5-10 hours per assignment (as with most programming, this will probably be less if you do careful design before coding).

    Work on these assignments must be your own. See the policy sheet for more details.

Tentative (very tentative) Course Outline:
 
WEEK TOPICS CHAPTERS
8/28 Introduction to programming and the Visual Basic environment Chapter 1
9/4 Object properties, Assignment statements (no class Monday) Chapter 2
9/11 Variables and Data Types, Debugging techniques Chapter 2
9/18 Type conversion, Arithmetic expressions Chapter 3
9/25 Program design, Variable scope Chapter 3
10/2 Calling procedures and functions Chapter 4
10/9 Writing procedures and functions (Exam Wednesday) Chapter 4
10/16 If/then/else statements, Designing programs with branches Chapter 5
10/23 Nested if statements, logic operators Chapter 5, 6
10/30 Testing and Data Validation Chapter 5, 6
11/6 Introduction to loops Chapter 7
11/13 Counter-controlled loops (Exam Monday, no class Friday) Chapter 7
11/20 Introduction to arrays Chapter 8
11/27 Parallel arrays, search (no class Friday) Chapter 8
12/4 Sequential file access Chapter 9