This one-semester on-line course in programming is required by some departments.
It can be used as a prerequisite for Com S 201 (COBOL - an elective computer science course).
Students who want additional computer science courses should enroll in Com S 207 instead,
in order to have the appropriate pre-requisite for other computer science courses.
Com S 107 is taught under the assumption that the students have no prior programming experience.
The major focus of this course is learning to program in a high level programming language.
A major task of programming is to express a problem in text as an unambiguous sequence of steps,
which, if followed, will obtain the solution to the problem.
This sequence is called an algorithm.
These algorithms are converted by the students into a computer program,
and this program is then executed by the computer.
Thus, students need to learn a programming language in order to write computer programs.
It is relatively easy to apply these skills to writing programs in another high level language.
Goals
To provide elementary programming skills in a high level programming language.
Audience
Students desiring a terminal programming course;
any other students who simply want to learn how to program.
Class Structure
This class is to be offered in an entirely on-line format.
All information that includes lectures, assignments, programs,
TA and instructor interaction, tests and exams, submitting/reviewing work
will be provided through the course website (WebCT Gold).
Therefore the course work can be done anytime
according to the student's schedule and anywhere from any personal computer with Internet connectivity.
This type of approach requires that the student be geared towards "self-learning"
and be able to structure their time to allow adequate time for the programming assignments.
Class Requirements
Students are required to access the course website
in order to take the on-line lectures and become familiar with the material.
The student should also daily examine the announcements and assignments to be submitted on-line.
To write, compile and run a computer program in a high level programming language,
students can install a programming environment in their own personal computer
that must satisfy the system requirements announced via the course web page,
or use computers in the computer lab of computer science department opened 24 hours a day-7 days a week.
There are usually 5-7 programs assigned per semester.
This is an essential part of the course,
since learning basic programming is the major objective of the course.
This class also requires students to take on-line quizzes.
Besides that, there are two comprehensive exams
in a proctored environment test center on the Iowa State University campus.
Both the instructor and the teaching assistant observe on-line office hours and encourage students to take advantage of this when they have questions and experience programming difficulties.
Computer Requirements
Students must have access to Microsoft Windows XP/Server 2003/Vista and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.
In addition, students must have access to Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and up in order to take the tests including quizzes on the course website (WebCT Gold).
No other type of browsers will work. Students are also required to have a speaker attached to the computer or a set of earphones in order to listen to the streaming lectures each week.
Finally, students must have high-speed (at least at the DSL or Cable speed) Internet connection.
Examinations
Exams will be offered via the course website.
Grading is based on the solution of 5-7 program problems, 4 quizzes, and 2 exams.
Text book
Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Step by Step, Michael Halvorson, Microsoft Press, 2006, ISBN:0735621314
Prerequisites
No formal course prerequsite.
PC literacy and skills in a Windows environment are necessary to navigate the website and utilize the compiler.
Typing skills are useful since programs are entered from the computer.