The course will involve learning increasingly
advanced programming topics. We will cover the following technologies to varying
degrees as appropriate:
VBScript1
XML
HTML
DHTML
ASP
SQL
1 This is the primary technology of interest.
What to Expect
A lot of work and a lot of fun! It seems like a lot of
territory to cover and it is. However, if taken in sequence the topics flow
smoothly from one to the next.
This is a "hands on" course. Be prepared
to spend considerable time in the lab and to emerge at the end of the course
with considerable satisfaction regarding your accomplishments.
Textbook, References and Resources
The textbook for this course is:
VBScript Programmer's Reference, ISBN: 1861002718, Publisher: Wrox Press,
Date: 1999, Authors: Clark, et. al
Additionally numerous resources are
available about the content of this course. Information about all subjects
covered in this course is available on the net and it is expected that you will
use the net as a main source. Also talk with friends, co-workers, and other
students. There are plenty of books available about each of the topics - take a
look if you wish.
Also look at the Handouts list on Communication menu of your Orion
account.
Class Structure
This is a lecture/lab course. Lecture really means
discussion. This means reading appropriate sections of the textbook before
class. This means doing the examples shown in the text (as well as others that
you dream up or are assigned) before coming to class. This means coming to class
ready to discuss what you read and mastered. Discuss means asking
and answering questions.
We will balance this way:
Tuesday: Lecture/Discussion (every Tuesday in the classroom)
Thursday: Lab (every Thursday)
Orion, the Course Schedule and Your Grade
Go to http://orion.kent.edu
and establish your account for this course.
Daily Schedule & Your
Grade
The course schedule is found online at http://orion.kent.edu
Your grades are stored on Orion.
Grading Scale
Your numeric grade is the weighted average of all your work. Your letter
grade is based on this scale. Grades are not curved. Grades are not rounded.
Please do not ask for special consideration - none will be given.
Letter Grade
Minimum Score
A
90
B
80
C
70
D
60
F
0
Requirements
The course components are:
19 Homeworks 3
Exams 1 Project 5 Code Reviews
The schedule for these items is on
Orion but a few notes may be of interest:
Homework:
Homeworks are short - all are programming assignments - mostly in
VBScript.
Homeworks are submitted to Orion and are graded automatically.
Homeworks may be attempted as many times as needed till you get them
right. No assignment may be started after the due date.
You may not attempt Homework 2 until Homework 1 is passed, Homework 3
until Homework 2 is passed, ... etc...1
Homeworks may be completed from anywhere.
1Homeworks are
passed with a score of 100%. Anything less than 100% prevents you from moving to
the next assignment or exam (see below). Failure to pass any one Homework will
prevent you from attempting any subsequent homeworks or exams.
Exams:
Exams are objective and done in a fashion similar to the homeworks.
Exams may not be attempted untill certain homeworks are complete:
Exams may only be completed in the lab:
Exam 1 may not be attempted untill Homework 8 is passed2.
Exam 2 may not be attempted untill Homework 14 is passed.
Exam 3 may not be attempted untill Homework 19 is passed.
2This means that if you do not pass Homework 8 by the
Homework 8 due date you may not take Exam 1. It means that you will receive a
grade of zero for Exam 1. Exam 2 and Exam 3 have similar regulations.
Project:
Information about the project is available the
first day of class. Go to your Orion account and find it on the Quizzes, etc...
menu. The project requires programming (VB), data in XML format and interface
development (HTML) using techniques that will be presented and discussed during
the semester.
Code Reviews:
Five times during the
semester your program code will be examined and evaluated for adherence to the
programming
standards. The dates will not be not announced in advance so it is in your
interest to write all of your program code always in compliance with standards.
Any code you place on the server is subject to examination. Only code structure
and documentation is evaluated. Code function is evaluated when your homework
assignments are submitted.
Virus Warning
Do not send a virus to the server
when you submit assignments. Any student submitting a virus to the server will
receive an F for the course. This is not negotiable for any reason. Make sure
that your work is clean before you submit.
Lateness
Lateness is not acceptable other than
for the standard published Kent State University reasons. You are expected to
complete your work on time. Late work recieves a zero. Please do not ask for
exceptions - none will be granted. It is better to submit partially complete
work rather than late work for which you will receive no credit.
Cell Phones and Pagers
Use of a cell phone or
pager during class is grounds for removal from the class. Use of such equipment
is rude and disrespectful towarde the instructor and other students (see respect
below).
Audits
None are allowed. Only students registered
with the Kent State University registrar are permitted and welcome in the
classroom.
Respect
You are expected to act in a proper
fashion at all times during the semester. Being respectful of other students and
the instructor is essential. Behavior otherwise will not be tolerated and is
grounds for dismissal from the course at any time during the semester. Dismissal
results in a grade of F.
Cheating
Your work is to be your work alone. If
two (or more) people submit the same work for any assignment all involved will
get a zero for that assignment. Just do not submit the same work. Making a few
cosmetic alterations of another student's work does not satisfy the requirement
of working alone. Don't just change a few comments and variable names - your
error will be detected.