CS101- Introduction to Programming

Course Syllabus

Fall 2005 

Instructor:                  Daniel Lande           

Office:                        SS 423

Office Phone:             243-4985

E-Mail:                       daniel.lande@umontana.edu                      

Office hours:              Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Thursday:     5:00 – 6:00 pm 

Other times available by appointment

 

Classroom:                SS 356 

Class hours:              Monday and Wednesday: 4:10-5:00PM

Lab Room:                FA 210

Lab hours:                Thursday and Friday: 4:10-5:00PM (Optional)

Course Description:   This course is an introduction to programming using the Visual Basic programming language. It is not a computer literacy course and it is not an in-depth course in Visual Basic. It will involve studying elementary programming techniques using Visual Basic. By the end of the course you will have an understanding of programming and how to write some basic computer programs using Visual Basic. You will also have the tools to continue learning more advanced programming concepts and other programming languages.

Required Texts: An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 6.0, Fourth Edition, Schneider

Homework:   Homework should be submitted using Blackboard before the due date mentioned in the class.  The link to Blackboard is http://umonline.umt.edu/.  An overview of how this is done will be performed in class.

Blackboard Quizzes:  Each week, there will be an online Blackboard quiz.

 Late Homework Policy:  Late homework will not be accepted. Students will be able to drop one homework assignment grade and one Blackboard quiz.

Collaboration Policy:  Students are encouraged to collaborate to enhance their learning experience.  Ideas for homework assignments may be shared, but the assignments must be completed individually.  The online Blackboard quizzes are to be completed by one’s self without the assistance of others.  Anyone caught violating the collaboration policy will be handled according to University policy.  A discussion board will be setup within Blackboard to facilitate discussion outside of class.  This will be the first place you should go with questions and comments about the class.

Policy on Incompletes: It is assumed that students have the responsibility for completing the requirements of the courses in which they are enrolled within the time framework of the semester. Incompletes may be given when, in the opinion of the instructor, there is a reasonable probability that students can complete the course without retaking it. The incomplete is not an option to be exercised at the discretion of students. In all cases it is given at the discretion of the instructor within the following guidelines:

1. A mark of incomplete may be assigned students when:

a.      They have been in attendance and doing passing work up to three weeks before the end of the semester, and

b.   For reasons beyond their control and which are acceptable to the instructor, they have been unable to complete the requirements of the course on time. Negligence and indifference are not acceptable reasons.

2. The instructor sets the conditions for the completion of the course work and notes these conditions on the final grade report.

3. When a student has met the conditions for making up the incomplete, the instructor will assign a grade based upon an evaluation of the total work done by the student in the course.

4. An incomplete which is not made up within one calendar year automatically will revert to the alternate grade which was assigned by the instructor at the time the incomplete was submitted.

5. An incomplete remains on the permanent record and is accompanied by the final grade, for example, IA, IB, IC, etc.

Exams: We will have one midterm exam and a final exam.  The final will be on Wednesday, December 14 from 1:10 to 3:10 in SS 356.  This final time cannot be changed.

Missing Exams: If you must miss an exam, arrangements must be made with me before the exam.  Excuses after missing the exam will not be sufficient.

Grading:  Grades will be given based on the following scale:

            Homework:                 50%

            Blackboard quizzes:    10%

            Mid-Term:                   15%

                    Final:                           25%

            We will use a traditional grading system:

                        90-100%          A

                        80-89%            B

                        70-79%            C

                        60-69%            D

                        0-59%              F

Credit/No Credit option: A student must earn at least a letter grade of D for Credit.  A No Credit grade will be equivalent to an F.

 Labs: Lab attendance is optional.  Lab time will be a good opportunity to get personal help from me on any issues you have as well as help on the homework assignments.      

Important Dates:

Last day to drop the class:

           with refund:         September 19, 2005

           without refund:   October 10, 2005

      Dropping after October 10, 2005 requires documented justification of a very unusual circumstance before even being considered by the department

Other: Profanity and obscenity will not be tolerated, either in class or on assignments. 

Disablilites: Please notify me at the beginning of the course of any disabilities I need to be aware of.  Disabilities must be certified through DSS.