Bergen Community College

Division of Business, Math & Social Science

Information Technology

Syllabus

Course Title: INF-246 Advanced Visual Basic
Credits/Hours: 3 credits/2 hours lecture, 2-hour lab
Prerequisite: INF-145 or by permission of the Department Head
Course Description:
INF-246 Advanced Visual Basic builds on the core language concepts introduced in INF-145 and continues effective hands-on instruction in the event-driven, high level programming language. Emphasis is on programming, using object-oriented graphical user interfaces in an integrated development environment. All work is done on a Microsoft Windows processing platform.
Textbook and Supplies:
A textbook which covers intermediate and advanced Visual Basic programming methods is required. In addition, 3½" high-density diskettes are required for students to submit programming assignments
Software:
Visual Studio .NET software will be provided for student use in the classroom and in the free-time computer labs.
Course Content: See course outline.
Assessment:
An average of 60% from combined assessment measures is required to demonstrate proficiency in course material. The course content, assignments and examinations are based on the textbook, lectures, and lab activities.
Textbook Material: Three exams	45%
Lab Material: Laboratory assignments	30%
Term project	25%
The term project is required in order to obtain a passing grade.

Student Learning Objectives	Assessment Measures
1. Work productively in the VB Integrated Development Environment (IDE)	Lab activity
2. Design and develop graphical user interfaces that meet professional standards	Lab activity Written exam
3. Write Visual Basic programs that demonstrate advanced programming techniques	Lab activity Written exam
4. Build .EXE files from VB source code	Lab activity
5. Write programs that retrieve, manipulate and update data residing in a relational database	Lab activity Written exam
6. Work with object-oriented programming techniques	Lab activity Written exam

College Competencies:	Student Learning Objective:
1. Technological and Information Literacy – Students will demonstrate computer literacy, and will be able to retrieve, organize, and analyze information using both technological and traditional means.	1-6
2. Critical Thinking - Students will actively reflect on, reason about, and form independent judgments on a variety of ideas and information, and use these skills to guide their beliefs and actions.	2, 3, 5
3. Quantitative Reasoning – Students will correctly apply and reason about formal concepts and operations, and will correctly interpret and analyze numerical data.	2, 3, 5
4. Applied Knowledge - Students will demonstrate an understanding of, and apply, bodies of knowledge within and across disciplines.	1-6

Testing:

Students are required to take examinations on the day and time they are scheduled. If special circumstances require a test schedule adjustment, this must be worked out in advance with the instructor. If a student misses an exam (except for prearranged circumstances with the instructor) a zero grade will be assigned.

The instructor can be reached by telephone (see course outline for appropriate phone number), e-mail, or written note left in the Divisional Office (during the day) A-306C or the Evening Office L-113. If there are extreme circumstances (documentation may be required) that prevent a student from taking a test according to the published schedule, use one of the above options to contact the instructor before the next class. An arrangement for a special testing schedule is solely at the discretion of the instructor. A student who waits for the next class session to speak with the instructor will not be accommodated with a special test schedule.

A make-up exam may be allowed (at the testing center) only by prior arrangement with the instructor and with an acceptable reason. Make-ups must be completed within the week after the regular class exam was given.

It is the student’s responsibility to finish an examination correctly and completely. Once the examinations are returned to the students, there will be no grade adjustments made due to inappropriate completion of the response form.

Laboratory Work:

Laboratory assignments are hands-on productions that show the instructor that the student can competently use specified software. The lab assignments are required for grading and it is important that the student attend all lab sessions. Assignments must be submitted as the student enters the lab on the assignment due date, and cannot be handed in late.

Projects submitted without proper student identification (name, course, and assignment number) will not be accepted. Projects may be E-mailed to the instructor as a ZIP’d attachment, or they can be submitted on diskettes. Each project should be submitted on a separate diskette or in a separate folder. Printouts of the forms and the program code may be required. Projects will be graded on several factors, such as whether they work correctly, follow coding and naming standards, use correct programming techniques, and present an appropriate user interface.

It is anticipated that students will spend 4 to 6 hours per week in the free-time computer room completing their projects and perfecting their skills.

Term Project:

Each student is required to produce a term project. The project will be due upon entry into the last class. It must be demonstrated to the instructor and discussed at that time or before. It will be developed in several sections during the latter part of the semester. One section will be due each week until the completion of the project for the last class in the semester. Each section must be submitted on time for full project credit.

The term project will involve developing an application that demonstrates the student’s mastery of a range of topics covered in the course. It will be a program that displays and updates information in an Access database, using Microsoft’s ADO technology and SQL commands. A real-world user interface will be developed with several windows and with advanced data-bound controls.

Homework:

In addition to any homework assignment given during class, it is a standing assignment that the student read each chapter of the book prior to its discussion. Following the class discussion, the student should reread the material and work with the exercises throughout the text.

Policies:

· Lateness – The roll will be taken at the beginning of class. If the student is not in attendance at that time, he/she will be carried in the roll book as being absent unless the instructor is notified immediately after class. Attendance sheets cannot be adjusted at following class meetings.

· The student must adhere to all college polices. Due to the nature of this course, it is recommended that the student review the policy titled “Acceptable Information Technology Use at Bergen Community College”.

· The use of portable electronic devices such as pagers and cell phones is not permitted while class is in session. Please be sure to silence electronic devices before entering class.

· The use of audio CD or tape players, radios, and college computers to play music during class is prohibited.

· Students are expected to demonstrate listening, reading, note taking, and writing skills. The student will need to take notes during class discussions and understand and follow verbal and written directions. All assignments and correspondence with the instructor (including e-mail) must be well written in full sentence format. Proper paragraph format must be used for all postings to the student bulletin board (if applicable).

· The subject line of all e-mail correspondence to the instructor must contain the course number and section and student’s name. Any e-mail received without this information will not be opened.

· Plagiarism in any form will be treated as a failure to complete an assignment. All work submitted should reflect individual effort by the student.

· In borderline cases that arise in almost every class each semester a student’s attendance, class participation, attitude, and observed effort will be considered in helping to determine the student’s final grade.

Instructor Absence:

If the instructor does not appear after 20 minutes following the scheduled time, students should generate an attendance list. One volunteer member will need to deliver the list, containing the course title, date, and instructor’s name, to the Evening Office L-113 or to the Divisional Office (during the day) A-306C.

Additional policy and assessment information may be distributed by individual instructors.