Syllabus for CSC 230: Programming Concepts and GUIs

Contact Information
Thomas E. Blum
Office: Olney-333
Office Hours:
Phone: 215-951-1139
e-mail: blum@lasalle.edu
Web: http://www.lasalle.edu/~blum

Recommended Text: Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Step by Step--Version 2003, Michael Halvorson, Microsoft Press (ISBN: 0735619050)

Topics: Problem solving and programming using problem-based learning; programming in an integrated development environment, such as Visual Basic .NET; control flow, iteration, modules, arrays, file processing, classes and objects, basic graphical user interface concepts (forms and controls).

Materials:

You will need a way to submit your solutions to the labs and homeworks. You can use a floppy disk (though some projects may be too large) or a CD. Anything you submit should be clearly labeled. Never submit your only copy of a solution. Always save any material handed back until you have received and accepted your final grade. It is also possible to email solutions provided that they are compressed (using a product like WinZip).

Assessment:

There will be a weekly lab as well as weekly homework. There will be four open-book, open-notes exams in which you will write code and a final of the same format. The various components of the course will be weighted as follows: Homework: 15% Lab/Class: 22.5% Tests: 37.5% (lowest dropped) Final: 25% or if it benefits the student Homework: 15% Lab/Class: 22.5% Tests: 50% (no drop) Final: 12.5% The plus/minus grading system will be used. Attendance will be taken. Absences, lateness, inattention, etc. will be factored into the lab/class component of the grade. Over three unexcused absences may result in the reduction of your final grade. Unless an extension has been granted, a late assignment will be penalized 5 pts. (out of 100) each day it is late. The lowest of the three test grades will be dropped. The final has a weight equal to two tests. If it is the lowest grade, it will be counted equal to a test and no test grade will be dropped. Make-up tests are given at the discretion of the professor. If you miss a test, you should assume it will serve as your dropped score unless you have met with me to discuss the reason for missing the exam and to schedule a make-up. All tests are cumulative, though they will tend to focus on and give more weight to the new material.

Printing: Note that a student is allotted 400 sheets of paper per semester to be printed in the classroom labs, open labs and library. A student can pay more if he or she wishes to exceed this limit. Think about what you are printing and how you are printing it.

Cheating:

When using materials from a book, website, etc., the source must be cited, otherwise it is considered plagiarism. Claiming another's work as your own is cheating. A student caught cheating will receive a score of zero. Repeated cheating can result in a failing grade for the course. Asking another for help on a step or two in a many step homework is acceptable; handing in duplicate or nearly duplicate work is not. If you require a significant amount of assitance, you should seek my help. Finally, openly allowing your work to be copied is also cheating.