M&IS 24070 Spring 2006 Formichelli
Course Information Spring 2006
Course title: Principles of System Development
Course number: M&IS 24070
Course description: Provides a rigorous introduction to programming logic and language syntax and a framework for the IS curriculum.
Location: BSA 108
Meeting day(s): TR
Meeting time(s): 5:30-6:45
Instructor Information
Name: Janet Formichelli, MS
Email: jformich@kent.edu
Office location: BSA A410
Office hours: TR 3:30-5:30, W 1:00-2:00
Phone: 330-672-1159
Prerequisite: M&IS 24053 Introduction to Computer Applications
Students attending the course who do not have the proper prerequisite risk being deregistered from the class.
Grading Scale
For general information on the new plus/minus grading system, go to:
http://business.kent.edu/news/plusminus.asp For more information, there is an online brochure at: http://www.uss.kent.edu/PDF/pm_grading_brochure.pdf
This scale is followed closely. There is no rounding up if you are close.
There is no extra credit.
A (4.0) 93-100
A- (3.7) 90-92
B+ (3.3) 87-89
B (3.0) 83-86
B- (2.7) 80-82
C+ (2.3) 77-79
C (2.0) 73-76
C- (1.7) 70-72
D+ (1.3) 67-69
D (1.0) 60-66
F (0.0) 0-59
Enrollment: Students have responsibility to ensure they are properly enrolled in classes. You are advised to review your official class schedule (using Web for Students) during the first two weeks of the semester to ensure you are properly enrolled in this class and section. Should you find an error in your class schedule, you have until Friday, January 27, 2006 to correct the error with your advising office. If registration errors are not corrected by this date and you continue to attend and participate in classes for which you are not officially enrolled, you are advised now that you will not receive a grade at the conclusion of the semester for any class in which you are not properly registered.
Course Goals: To solve problems and implement these solutions using the Visual Basic .NET programming language.
Specific Programming skills students are expected to learn include: (current programming language is Visual Basic .NET)
• Data Types (String/Character, integer, floating point, date, boolean). Why there are restrictions on the magnitude of different types of values. When (not) to use specific data types.
• The purpose of sequence, selection and iteration control structures. These are the fundamental building blocks of all code.
• Variables (typing, memory allocation). Why we call them variables. How their type determines the values they may be assigned. Why there can be unanticipated problems.
• Arrays (typing, memory allocation) What they are. How they can be used to reduce program complexity.
• Object-Based Programming
• The principles of structured programming.
• How to use tools to such as pseudo-code, flowcharting, etc. in the programming process.
• Language Syntax
• What a compiler (syntax) error is
• What an execution (run-time) error is
• Ability to debug programs they and/or others create
• How to perform data validation
• Naming conventions
• Creating “readable” code
• Reading from/writing to a sequential access file
• The use of procedures and functions
• Writing structured programs
Textbook: Programming in Visual Basic .NET, 2003 Update Edition, Julia Case Bradley & Anita C. Millspaugh, McGraw-Hill, 2005, ISBN 0-07-297039-1.
Software: CD-ROM: Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003
Six disks: 1, 2, Prerequisite and 3 MSDN Disks
These can be copied to 6 of your own blank disks. The lab aides have them to give you. You can then copy them in the lab. (See Obtaining and Installing Visual Studio.NET 2003 for details.)
Need Visual Basic only for this course. Can load other languages if you want depending on space on your machine. Be sure to load the Graphics section when loading this software.
This software is also available on the lab computers in BSA.
Optionally, students can obtain this software from the bookstore for $60.
Course Requirements
6 Visual Basic programming assignments: 150 points
3 course exams: (50 points each) 150 points
Final exam: 100 points
WebCT
The WebCT site, http://class.kent.edu or accessible through flashline, will basically manage the course. Your Kent userid and password will enable you to enter the site if you are enrolled for the class. The syllabus, assignments, Power Point slides and course information will be available there. A help page for using WebCT is found at: http://webcthelp.kent.edu/v3/
E-mail
When there are schedule changes or other announcements, the instructor will e-mail you using your KSU e-mail address. Check this frequently. If you commonly use another address, forward your Kent e-mail to that address. You can do this easily on the Kent Help Desk site at: http://helpdesk.kent.edu/faq/Email/fmail/
To e-mail the instructor use: jformich@kent.edu or if you reply to an e-mail from the instructor with another address, that is ok. Do not e-mail the instructor at WebCT.
For homework assignments, if you put the letters hw with a space on each side of the hw in the subject line of the e-mail, a reply will be generated to you that the instructor has received your homework. For example:
Subject: Jones HW 5
You will not get the reply immediately, but you should have it within a day.
Attendance
Missing class is not an excuse for failure to understand material or complete assignments. Material covered in class will not be covered again outside of class. It is up to you to read the material and get notes from another student if you miss class. Do not expect any special help or privileges if you do not attend class regularly.
Late Assignments
Programming assignments are to be e-mailed to the instructor by the beginning of the class time on the date on which they are due. Absence from class is not an excuse for not having the assignment in. Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day (not per class session). Assignments will not be accepted after one week beyond the due date.
Make-up Exams
Make-up exams are given only under extraordinary circumstances. Inform the instructor as soon as possible (ideally before the exam). Some form of written excuse for absence from an exam is required.
Academic Honesty
University Policy:
Cheating means to misrepresent the source, nature, or other conditions of your academic work (e.g., tests, papers, projects, assignments) so as to get undeserved credit. The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense. It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course. Repeat offenses result in dismissal from the University.
Course Policy:
Academic honesty is expected and required. HELPING fellow students is acceptable, and is actually a very good way to learn the material (particularly with debugging programs). COPYING is NOT acceptable, and will result in loss of credit for the assignment, and possibly failure of the course for all students involved. Follow these guidelines:
All work on the design and basic coding phase of a program should be your own. That is, sitting in a group writing a program together is considered to be copying.
If you receive help with debugging part of an assignment, then you must acknowledge that help in the documentation of that section (your grade will not be affected).
If you give help to another student, then it is your responsibility to make sure that they fully understand the concepts. You may help them to debug the program, but you may not give them code.
If copying programs is suspected, both (or all) students involved will receive zeros for that assignment at the least, and possibly a failure for the course. DO NOT GIVE OTHERS YOUR CODE.
Students with Disabilities
University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access equal access course content. If you have documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through the Student Disability Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit http://www.registrars.kent.edu/disability/default.htm for more information on registration procedures).
