CIS 315
S YLLABUS

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• Create, open, and close a sequential access data file
• Write records to and read records from a sequential access data file
• Use the Menu Editor for designing menus
• Use the Common Dialog control to create and display customized dialog boxes
• Understand the difference between random access files and sequential access files
• Write records to and read records from a random access data file
• Use the Type statement to define data types for random access files
• Understand the process of passing variables to and from the various procedures within code
• Understand the error trapping process
• Understand the concepts of designing a database
• Create a database using Visual Data Manager
• Recognize the importance of defining data validation rules and data validation text
• Understand how to add, delete, edit, and search records in a database table
• Use the SQL Select command to query a database

For online courses, absenteeism is defined as failure to submit tutorial and written assignments or to participate in chat rooms or discussion groups for 20% of the class.  The official NCWC 20%  absenteeism rule which means that a student can be administratively withdrawn from the class without permission or consultation if the student misses 20% of the time period for the class in a given semester.  Because NCWC offers courses in so many different lengths, the 20% rule has been created as a standardized way of measuring absenteeism.

For an 8-week course, the above table tells you that if the instructor has had no communication with the student for two weeks, then the student will be administratively dropped from the course.  If the student does not communicate for one week (Monday - Sunday), then the student will be considered absent for that week.  Any exceptions must be approved by the instructor prior to the absences.
 

The primary and most reliable means of communicating with the instructor in an online course is the WWW, which means through web pages on the Internet viewed through a browser.  You will find that the online instructor will provide you with numerous opportunities to establish contact via web pages that contain links to discussion boards, chat rooms, email, etc.  Many of these features will integrated with other course-related websites such as NCWC's CampusCruiser.  At the WWW level of contact, an online student should be making a browser visit to the instructors website and course related websites at least once every 48 hours (every two days or three times a week which is 3 contact hours).

Your secondary means of contact is by email.  This means of communication will be used when you are receiving any secondary instructions or announcements from the instructor about particular assignments or when you are submitting your completed assignments to the instructor, which means you will turn your work in via the email-level of contact.  Please avoid using this level of contact with the instructor for matters that are not work related.

Three other matters are extremely important when using email contact with the instructor:

1. Always be certain to put your name (the full name under which you registered for this course under) in all your email messages, for example:
   (a) in the subject line of the message along with the course number
   (b) in the message body or bottom of the text field of your email message as if you were signing the email
   (c) and in the text or code body of any and all attachments sent along with your email.
    
2. Always be certain to wait at least 48 hours for the instructor to provide feedback or grading of assignments before sending the instructor any additional email.  Do not send the instructor an assignment and then less than 48 hours, send another email asking if the instructor received or has graded the assignment.
    
3. It is the student's responsibility, not the instructor's, to check the Sent Mail (Outbox and Inbox) features of their own email program to make sure any attachments sent are properly named, formatted, and readable (in MS Word), truly attached, and that the "Sent Mail" has not bounced back as undeliverable.  Keep your mail box "clean".  Delete unnecessary and old messages regularly.  Your mail box space on CampusCruiser is limited.  Read the instructions posted on the email web site for deleting and archiving files.

For matters relating to your admissions status at the college, please contact the school's admissions office at adm@ncwc.edu or the site director at the location where you were first processed for admission to NCWC.   For matters relating to financial statements, credit hours, transcripts, articulation, and transfer credit, please contact the school's business office or the school's Registrar by calling the Business Office during regular working hours at 252-985-5104.

For anything relating to advising, scheduling, adding/dropping course(s), upcoming courses, or degree completion requirements, please contact your assigned advisor or the appropriate advisor at the ADP site where you were admitted.  These advisors include:  SMDavis@ncwc.edu for Rocky Mount, LKinney@ncwc.edu for Goldsboro, and RFatteh@ncwc.edu for Raleigh/Durham/RTP.

For help with tutoring or disability support you can access the Student Support Center website at:   http://www.ncwc.edu/Offices/Student_Support/.

For library help, please look at NCWC's library website at  http://annex.ncwc.edu/Library where you may find course-specific, site-specific, and discipline-specific resources which help you in doing research, finding sources of information, and utilizing school-specific media such as NCLive, a database of journals and periodicals.  Please contact the library administrator or any of the library staff to obtain any needed passwords.
 

Most assignments will come from the book.  At times, however, some assignments may make use of other website features, such as chat, email, and the discussion board.   The book must be purchased.  All websites and website access are free.  Students are expected to not only meet the contact hours requirement, but devote significant out-of-class time to reading, checking the websites, and using the other college resources.  Students must also have access or possession to a computer equipped with Microsoft Office (Word), Visual Basic 6.0, WinZip compression program, Internet access, and a web browser such as Internet Explorer by the end of the first week of class.  Word processed attachments must be formatted in Word (not Works or WordPerfect), and should be spell-checked and virus-free.  Students are also expected to use the CampusCruiser email address.  This will be the only email address the instructor will use in contacting the student.  Students should make a habit of checking the Announcements Link for pertinent information at least once every 48 hours.
 

Homework Assignments:  There are approximately 20 graded assignments.  These assignments range from very simple to somewhat difficult.  Correctly completed assignments receive full credit (5 points) for the assignment.  If a legitimate effort has been made to complete the assigned work, full credit will also be received.  On the other hand, work that is incomplete and shows a lack of effort will receive only half credit (2.5 points).  Assignments not received by the due date, improperly zipped, labeled, or attached (see Contact Requirements #1) will receive a zero for that work.

Projects:  There are three projects each designed to challenge your knowledge on the material covered to that point.  As with homework, projects not received by the due date, improperly zipped, labeled, or attached will receive a zero.

Homework and Projects are considered to be an individual effort.  You are NOT allowed to work together, work in groups, or receive any outside help. Violation of this honor code will result in a zero each time cheating is suspected.  The instructor is NOT tolerant of "lost email" excuses; therefore, use the necessary email options to verify receipt of your work.  Grades are posted on the CampusCruiser website no later than one week after submission.

There are no bonus point exercises in this course, there are no substitute assignments, and there are no grading curves, except those that are made at the discretion of the instructor.

NOTE: The text CD is a Visual Basic student version.  It can be used to complete homework assignments from the text; however, it cannot be used to complete assigned projects.
 

Saving Your Work.  Filenames must include:  a) the tutorial number and letter (5A) or the exercise number of the assignment (#2) and b) the beginning page number (1A VB17) or (#2 VB37).  All work must be saved accordingly before I will give the assignment credit.

Turning In Your Work.  All programming assigned work is to be zipped and emailed to me at:  jk155592@mail.ncwc.edu.  In submitting your work, the SUBJECT line should contain the tutorial name; example, Tutorial 5A Assignments.  If you have to use an email account other than the schools, you need to include your name in the message window.  Any work turned in not following this format will only receive half credit.

Zipping Your Files.  All programming assignments or projects need to include the minimum of the project file (.vbp) and the form file (.frm) in the zipped file.  As a suggestion, test the zipped file to see if it opens correctly before emailing the file.  Zipped file name should be identical to the filename (see Saving Your Work).

All written assignments must include:  Your name, class identification, and assignment identification (ex.,  #2 VB127).

Monitoring the Web Page.  Monitor the My Grades link (located in CampusCruiser) periodically; any work you feel should have received credit needs to be brought to my attention immediately -- not on the day of the exam or on the last day of class.  I will not credit anything that is one week past the modified Grades page date or has a file date after the assignments' due date.

Your idea of completed work may not be the same as mine; if you have any questions about the work, please contact me.
 

There are two scheduled tests each totaling approximately 100 points.  Each test will have a total of 20 True/False, 20 Multiple Choice, 20 Fill-in-the-Blank, and 10 Coding questions.  To be eligible for a make-up test, you must have a legitimate excuse for missing the test.  Make up tests must be taken within one class week.

You are NOT allowed to work together, work in groups, or receive any outside help on exams. Violation of this honor code will result in a final letter grade drop each time it is suspected.  Again, the instructor is NOT tolerant of "lost email" excuses; therefore, use the necessary email options to verify receipt.

Grades are posted on the My Grades Link no later than one week after submission.
 

Plagiarism and Cheating (as per the College Catalog) is prohibited.  Plagiarism is defined as taking or using the thoughts, writings, or inventions of another as one's own.  Cheating is defined as any intent to deceive the instructor in his or her effort to grade fairly.  Anything that can possibly affect the fairness of grading is cheating, which I interpret to include any collaborative, mischievous, or disruptive behavior.  Do not purchase, borrow, or revise another student's work.  The following penalties are applied, as per the College Catalog.

Grading:

Grades will be based on the following:                                                         Return to top

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

F

95

91

89

85

81

79

75

71

69

65

59--

Grading Criteria:

    Tests & Quizzes
     Projects
     Assignments
    TOTAL

45%
35%
20%
100%