Center for Learning and Technology
COURSE SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
COS-101-GS
Course Syllabus INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
COS-101-GS ©Thomas Edison State College
May 2014
S-3
Course Essentials
Introduction to Computers provides you with a broad, general
introduction to hardware and software fundamentals, productivity software, graphics, digital media, multimedia, database applications,
networking, the Internet, and security and privacy issues, as well as an
introduction to object-oriented programming using the Visual Basic
programming language.
OBJECTIVES
At the completion of the course, you should be able to:
Describe the basic nomenclature of a computer and the many input
and output devices available today.
Explain software fundamentals and describe a variety of productivity
applications.
Describe database applications and enumerate privacy concerns.
Identify networking and telecommunication fundamentals.
Explain computer security and the various means by which the risks
of security may be minimized.
Compare and contrast graphics, digital media, and multimedia
applications.
Distinguish between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
Write several application programs using the Visual Basic
programming language.
S-4
COURSE MATERIALS
In addition to the Course Syllabus, which consists of “Course Essentials,” “Course Calendar,” “Assignment Modules,” “Projects,” and “Appendix,”
you will need the following materials to do the work of the course.
Required Textbooks
Digital Planet: Tomorrow's Technology and You, 10th ed. (Introductory), by George Beekman and Ben Beekman (Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012; ISBN-13: 978-0-13-209125-1)
An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, 9th ed., by David
I. Schneider (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2014; ISBN-13: 978-0-13-337850-4), packaged with Visual Studio 2012
Express Edition DVD
Required Software
Visual Studio 2012
Note: Visual Studio 2012 comes in different editions. For this course we recommend Visual Studio Express 2012, which comes packaged with the text An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012 when purchased from the textbook supplier. All of the book’s examples, however, run with both Visual Basic 2012 Express Edition and other editions of Visual Basic 2012. You may download Visual Studio Express 2012 for free directly from Microsoft.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
To run Visual Studio Express 2012, your computer should meet the
following system requirements:
Supported Operating Systems
Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1,
Windows Server 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34673
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34673
S-5
Windows 7 SP1 (x86 and x64)
Windows 8 (x86 and x64)
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (x64)
Windows Server 2012 (x64)
Hardware Requirements
1.6 GHz or faster processor
1 GB of RAM (1.5 GB if running in a virtual machine)
5 GB of available hard disk space
5400 RPM hard disk drive
DirectX 9 capable video card running at 1024 × 768 or higher-
resolution display
COURSE STRUCTURE
Introduction to Computers is a three-credit, twelve-week course
consisting of ten (10) assignments—five written assignments based on the Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You textbook and five
programming assignments based on the Visual Basic text—ten (10)
chapter quizzes based on the assigned reading from the Digital Planet textbook, and two (2) projects: a Computer Fundamentals Project and a
Programming Project. Weekly learning activities include reading
assigned chapters from both textbooks, doing suggested self-check exercises, and preparing written and programming assignments to be
sent to your mentor for grading.
The “Course Calendar” in the syllabus specifies which chapters in the
textbooks you should read each week. It also indicates due dates for
submitting written and programming assignments, taking chapter
quizzes, and completing projects.
ASSIGNMENTS
You are required to submit ten (10) assignments to your mentor for grading—five written assignments based on the Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s
S-6
Technology and You textbook and five programming assignments based on
the Visual Basic text. Assignment questions are found in the “Assignment
Modules” section of the syllabus.
For this course you will need to submit your assignments electronically.
Please follow the directions given in the Student Handbook.
Regarding the submission of programming assignments, please read
“Appendix: A Note on Submitting Programming Assignments” at the end of this syllabus. For each assigned programming exercise or project,
you will need to submit a ZIP file of the Visual Basic application folder
for that exercise or project.
CHAPTER QUIZZES
You are required to take ten (10) short online chapter quizzes based on
the assigned reading from the Digital Planet textbook. Each chapter quiz is
20 minutes long and consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. These quizzes are intended as diagnostic assessments that test your knowledge
of computer fundamentals and the topics and items covered in the text.
For that reason, you may take the quizzes as often as you want until the due date, at which time your mentor will “lock in” your last recorded
score as your grade on the quiz. The launch link for the quiz is available
within the course Web site.
PROJECTS
Introduction to Computers has two (2) comprehensive projects in lieu of
a midterm and final exam, respectively. Please see the “Projects” section
of the syllabus for details, and consult the Course Calendar for the due
dates.
Computer Fundamentals Project
The first project, worth 15 percent of your course grade, focuses on
computer fundamentals. It provides you with a chance to apply what you have learned about computer fundamentals to a real-life scenario in
which you automate a medical office by replacing old, outdated
technology with all new computer technology and equipment given a
fixed budget.
S-7
Programming Project
The second project, worth 25 percent of your course grade, focuses on the
development of several Visual Basic applications to be used by the same
medical office you helped to automate in the previous project. In this Programming Project you put computer fundamental concepts into a
real-life situation by developing several small applications that create a
modern data flow process within a small organization.
GRADING
Your final grade in the course will be determined as follows:
Written Assignments (5) 25 percent
Programming Assignments (5) 25 percent
Chapter Quizzes (10) 10 percent Computer Fundamentals Project 15 percent
Programming Project 25 percent
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a
score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as
follows:
A = 93–100 C+ = 78–79
A– = 90–92 C = 73–77
B+ = 88–89 C– = 70–72
B = 83–87 D = 60–69
B– = 80–82 F = Below 60 (no credit)
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a nonarea of study course),
based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g.,
assignments, quizzes, projects, etc.).
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
To succeed in this course, consider following these steps and study tips:
S-8
1. Read carefully the entire “Course Essentials” section of the syllabus,
making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that
you have all the materials required for the course.
2. Take the time to read the entire Student Handbook section of the
course manual. The handbook answers many questions about how to
proceed through the course and how to get the most from your
educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.
3. Each week, consult the “Course Calendar” in the syllabus to
determine which chapter(s) in the textbooks to study. The calendar
also indicates the due dates for submitting assignments and projects and when you should take your quizzes. It is essential that you follow
the calendar each week to ensure that you stay on track throughout
the course.
4. Take advantage of the materials provided with your textbooks to help you master the material in the course. The Tomorrow’s Technology and
You text, for example, has end-of-chapter summaries and review
questions (true or false, multiple-choice, and essay) and a companion Web site (http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/). The
Visual Basic text comes bundled with Visual Studio 2012 Express
Edition, the software you need to do the programming assignments, and includes six months of prepaid access to the book’s companion
Web site.
http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/
S-9
Course Calendar
Using the table of week-by-week dates in the General Course Instructions section of the course manual, write the dates for the current semester in
the second column. In the last column, fill in the actual date for
submitting each assignment and project and taking quizzes.
Week Dates Reading Assignment Written Assignment / Chapter Quizzes / Programming Assignment / Project
Due Date
Assignment Module 1: Computer Hardware and Software Essentials (1); Visual Basic Programming (1)
1
Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You, chaps 1 and 2 An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, chap. 1 (sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.4) and chap. 2 (sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3)
Written Assignment 1
Submit by Sunday of Week 1.
2
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 quizzes Take by Friday of Week 2. Programming Assignment 1
Submit by Sunday of Week 2.
Assignment Module 2: Computer Hardware and Software Fundamentals (2); Visual Basic Programming (2)
3
Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You, chaps 3 and 4 An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, chap. 3 (sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3)
Written Assignment 2
Submit by Sunday of Week 3.
4
Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 quizzes
Take by Friday of Week 4. Programming Assignment 2 Submit by Sunday of Week 4.
S-10
Week Dates Reading Assignment Written Assignment / Chapter Quizzes / Programming Assignment / Project
Due Date
Assignment Module 3: Essential Software Applications (1); Visual Basic Programming (3)
5
Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You, chaps 5 and 7 An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, chap. 4 (sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4)
Written Assignment 3 Submit by Sunday of Week 5.
6
Chapter 5 and Chapter 7 quizzes Take by Friday of Week 6. Programming Assignment 3
Submit by Sunday of Week 6.
Assignment Module 4: Essential Software Applications (2); Exploring Telecommunications and Computer Security; Visual Basic Programming (4)
7
Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You, chaps 8 and 10 An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, chap. 5 (sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4)
Written Assignment 4 Submit by Sunday of Week 7.
8
Chapter 8 and Chapter 10 quizzes Take by Friday of Week 8. Programming Assignment 4 Submit by Sunday of Week 8.
Computer Fundamentals Project
9 Computer Fundamentals Project Submit by Sunday of Week 9.
Assignment Module 5: Exploring Multimedia and Internet Applications; Visual Basic Programming (5)
10
Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You, chaps 6 and 9 An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, chap. 6 (sections 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3)
Written Assignment 5 Submit by Sunday of Week 10.
S-11
Week Dates Reading Assignment Written Assignment / Chapter Quizzes / Programming Assignment / Project
Due Date
11
Chapter 6 and Chapter 9 quizzes Take by Friday of Week 11. Programming Assignment 5
Submit by Sunday of Week 11.
Programming Project
12 Programming Project Submit by Sunday of Week 12.
S-12
Assignment Modules
Following are five assignment modules. Please send your completed
written assignments and programming assignments to the mentor by the
due date indicated in the “Course Calendar.”
For directions on how to prepare and submit assignments, please see the Student Handbook section of the course manual. See also “Appendix: A
Note on Submitting Programming Assignments” at the end of this
syllabus.
ASSIGNMENT MODULE 1
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this assignment, you should be able to:
Discuss the historical development of the computer.
Explain what the computer does.
Describe ways in which computers play a critical role in everyday life.
Identify major types of computers and the differences between
computers and other machines.
Illustrate the important relationship between hardware and software.
Contrast the information age with other ages in history.
Discuss how people use information technology and point out the
social and ethical impacts of information technology.
Illustrate and describe the basic nomenclature of a computer.
__________
Use Windows operating system tools such as mouse actions, editors,
files and folders, Explorer, and dialog boxes to manage Visual Basic
files.
S-13
Use common controls in Visual Basic—their properties, methods, and
events to which they respond—in composing a coded solution to a
task.
Write code to solve algorithms in which either arithmetic operations
with numeric variables or string operations with string variables are
appropriate.
Write programs in Visual Basic 2012 while being guided by the six steps of the program development cycle: analyze the problem, design
a solution, choose the interface, write code, test and debug your
solution, and document code.
Study Assignment
Computer Fundamentals
Study Chapters 1 and 2 in Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and
You, 10th ed. (Introductory), by Beekman and Beekman.
Read Appendix A, “Basics,” to obtain a general background on ideas
and concepts that carry through the entire course.
Self-Check Exercises—The Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and
You companion Web site, http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/, contains self-
test exercises related to the chapters studied in this assignment
module, including self-test quiz questions in each chapter’s Online Study Guide. Go to the companion Web site, select a chapter, and
click Online Study Guide to take the chapter self-test. Do not e-mail
your results to your mentor.
Programming (Visual Basic)
Read Chapter 1, sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.4, in An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, 9th ed., by Schneider. Read for
background material and perspectives on computers and Windows.
Study “Comments” on p. 14.
Read Chapter 2, sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Study “Comments” on pp.
32–32 and 43–46.
Install Visual Basic 2012 Express Edition. This takes approximately
forty minutes.
http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/
S-14
Self-Check Exercises—A distinguishing feature of the Schneider
textbook is the invaluable exercise set that accompanies each section on programming. Working as many of these exercises as possible is
your key to success in the course and the surest way to learn Visual
Basic and to prepare for your programming activities. A large number of recommended exercises are listed below for Chapter 2. You should
try some or all of them depending on your comfort level with syntax
and concepts. Answers to all odd-numbered exercises are given at the
end of the text.
o Study “Comments,” pp. 32–33.
Do Exercises 2.2, nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 28,
29, 30.
o Study “Comments,” pp. 43–46. Do Exercises 2.3, nos. 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 33,
34, 35, 36, 37.
Additional Resources—Note: All resources are found on the Web
and are not affiliated with Thomas Edison State College.
o Visual Studio Express 2012 Download (http://www.microsoft.com/en-
us/download/details.aspx?id=34673)
o Microsoft Developers Network, Getting Started Tutorials
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-
us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx)
o Channel9’s Visual Basic Fundamental Series: Series
Introduction - 01 (http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-
Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Series-
Introduction-01)
o Channel9’s Visual Basic Fundamental Series: Creating Your
First Visual Basic Program - 02
(http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic- Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Creating-Your-First-
Visual-Basic-Program-02)
o Channel9’s Visual Basic Fundamental Series: Dissecting the
First Visual Basic Program You Wrote - 03 (http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-
Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Dissecting-the-First-
Visual-Basic-Program-You-Created-03)
o Channel9’s Visual Basic Fundamental Series: Quick Overview of the Visual Basic Express IDE - 04
(http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34673
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34673
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Series-Introduction-01
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Series-Introduction-01
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Series-Introduction-01
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Creating-Your-First-Visual-Basic-Program-02
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Creating-Your-First-Visual-Basic-Program-02
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Creating-Your-First-Visual-Basic-Program-02
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Dissecting-the-First-Visual-Basic-Program-You-Created-03
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Dissecting-the-First-Visual-Basic-Program-You-Created-03
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Dissecting-the-First-Visual-Basic-Program-You-Created-03
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Quick-Overview-of-the-Visual-Basic-Express-Edition-IDE-04
S-15
Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Quick-Overview-of-
the-Visual-Basic-Express-Edition-IDE-04)
Written Assignment 1 (Submit by Sunday of Week 1)
Submit complete answers to the following end-of-chapter Review
Questions from the Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You textbook.
Chapter 1: Review Questions 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10
Chapter 2: Review Questions 3, 4, 5, 10
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Quizzes (Take by Friday of Week 2)
The quizzes for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 each consist of 20 multiple- choice questions based on the assigned reading. You may take these 20-
minute quizzes as often as you want until the due date, at which time
your mentor will “lock in” your last recorded score as your grade on the quiz. The launch links for the quizzes are available within the course Web
site.
Programming Assignment 1 (Submit by Sunday of Week 2)
Preliminary Steps
1. Invoke Visual Basic by following the directions in section 2.2, pp. 18–
22.
2. Perform the text box, button, label, and list box walkthroughs, pp. 22–
28.
3. Perform the event procedure walkthrough, pp. 37–41.
Programming Exercises
Do the following exercises from An Introduction to Programming Using
Visual Basic 2012. To submit your assignment, first create a ZIP file of the application folder for each exercise (see “Appendix: A Note on
Submitting Programming Assignments” at the end of the syllabus). Then
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Quick-Overview-of-the-Visual-Basic-Express-Edition-IDE-04
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Quick-Overview-of-the-Visual-Basic-Express-Edition-IDE-04
S-16
upload and submit both ZIP files (compressed folders) to the assignment
link provided in the Assignments area of the course Web site.
1. Exercise no. 39, p. 50
2. Exercise no. 40, p. 50
ASSIGNMENT MODULE 2
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this assignment, you should be able to:
Demonstrate how computers store and manipulate information.
Explain the variety and uses of types of memory and storage devices.
Identify a variety of input devices and show how they enable people
to place information into a computer.
List a variety of output devices and show how they enable users to
display useful information.
Identify the roles of a computer’s operating system.
Describe algorithms and how they are used to develop software
solutions to everyday problems.
Explain how file systems are organized.
Summarize the dramatic changes in user interfaces that have occurred
during the history of computer evolution.
State the legal ramifications of unauthorized copying of software.
__________
Write programs in Visual Basic 2012 while being guided by the six
steps of the program development cycle: analyze the problem, design
a solution, choose the interface, write code, test and debug your
solution, and document code.
Incorporate input and output methods, including reading data from
sequential files, obtaining user input to input boxes, and displaying boxes, and displaying messages in message boxes.
S-17
Study Assignment
Computer Fundamentals
Study Chapters 3 and 4 in Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and
You, 10th ed. (Introductory), by Beekman and Beekman.
Self-Check Exercises—The Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and
You companion Web site, http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/, contains self-
test exercises related to the chapters studied in this assignment
module, including self-test quiz questions in each chapter’s Online Study Guide. Go to the companion Web site, select a chapter, and
click Online Study Guide to take the chapter self-test. Do not e-mail
your results to your mentor.
Programming (Visual Basic)
Read Chapter 3, sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3, in An Introduction to
Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, 9th ed., by Schneider.
Read the Chapter 3 “Summary,” pp. 100–101.
Self-Check Exercises—A distinguishing feature of the Schneider
textbook is the invaluable exercise set that accompanies each section
on programming. Working as many of these exercises as possible is
your key to success in the course and the surest way to learn Visual
Basic and to prepare for your programming activities. A large number
of recommended exercises are listed below for Chapter 3. You should try some or all of them depending on your comfort level with syntax
and concepts. Answers to all odd-numbered exercises are given at the
end of the text.
o Study “Comments,” pp. 62–63. Do Exercises 3.1, nos. 1, 3, 5, 9, 17, 21, 23, 25, 29, 31, 33, 34, 39,
41, 47, 49, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 71, 72.
o Study “Comments,” p. 79.
Do Exercises 3.2, nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29,
31, 33, 35, 39, 41, 42, 45, 47, 51.
o Do Exercises 3.3, nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 25, 27, 28,
30, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 51, 72, 74, 75.
Additional Resources—Note: All resources are found on the Web
and are not affiliated with Thomas Edison State College.
http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/
S-18
o Microsoft Developers Network, Getting Started Tutorials
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-
us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx)
o Channel9’s Visual Basic Fundamental Series: Declaring
Variables and Assigning Values - 05
(http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic- Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Declaring-Variables-
and-Assigning-Values-05)
Written Assignment 2 (Submit by Sunday of Week 3)
Submit complete answers to the following end-of-chapter Review Questions from the Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You
textbook.
Chapter 3: Review Questions 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 Chapter 4: Review Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 Quizzes (Take by Friday of Week 4)
The quizzes for Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 each consist of 20 multiple-
choice questions based on the assigned reading. You may take these 20-
minute quizzes as often as you want until the due date, at which time your mentor will “lock in” your last recorded score as your grade on the
quiz. The launch links for the quizzes are available within the course Web
site.
Programming Assignment 2 (Submit by Sunday of Week 4)
Programming Exercises
Do the following exercises and programming projects from An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012. To submit your
assignment, first create a ZIP file of the application folder for each
exercise (see “Appendix: A Note on Submitting Programming Assignments” at the end of the syllabus). Then upload and submit all of
the ZIP files (compressed folders) to the assignment link provided in the
Assignments area of the course Web site.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Declaring-Variables-and-Assigning-Values-05
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Declaring-Variables-and-Assigning-Values-05
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Declaring-Variables-and-Assigning-Values-05
S-19
1. Exercise no. 70, p. 68 2. Exercise no. 40, p. 83
3. Programming project no. 2, p. 101
4. Programming project no. 3, p. 102
ASSIGNMENT MODULE 3
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this assignment, you should be able to:
Distinguish between word-processing and desktop-publishing
software tools.
Discuss the impact of word-processing and desktop-publishing tools
on authorship, publishing, and freedom of the press.
Demonstrate the use of spreadsheet software in various practical
applications and how this software is used in “what if” questions.
List the types of software tools used in statistical analysis, graphing,
and simulations.
Define what a database is and summarize its structure.
Distinguish between file managers and relational databases.
Describe how databases store, sort, update, and summarize
information and answer queries.
Relate how the use of databases affects our daily lives and provides
many conveniences, yet threaten our individual privacy.
__________
Write programs in Visual Basic 2012 using concepts based on
relational and logical operator sequencing.
Develop Visual Basics 2012 applications that incorporate
“conditional” or True/False statements that “steer” the decision or
data flow of the application.
Write Visual Basic 2012 programs that use the If and Select decision-
making blocks.
Generate user interfaces that display decision-making by means of
“list boxes,” “radio buttons,” and “check boxes,” all three providing
S-20
efficient ways for a program to select from a set number of possible
options.
Study Assignment
Computer Fundamentals
Study Chapters 5 and 7 in Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and
You, 10th ed. (Introductory), by Beekman and Beekman.
Self-Check Exercises—The Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You companion Web site,
http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/, contains self-
test exercises related to the chapters studied in this assignment module, including self-test quiz questions in each chapter’s Online
Study Guide. Go to the companion Web site, select a chapter, and
click Online Study Guide to take the chapter self-test. Do not e-mail
your results to your mentor.
Programming (Visual Basic)
Read Chapter 4, sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4, in An Introduction to
Programming Using Visual Basic 2012, 9th ed., by Schneider.
Read the Chapter 4 “Summary,” pp. 160–161.
Self-Check Exercises—A distinguishing feature of the Schneider
textbook is the invaluable exercise set that accompanies each section on programming. Working as many of these exercises as possible is
your key to success in the course and the surest way to learn Visual
Basic and to prepare for your programming activities. A large number of recommended exercises are listed below for Chapter 4. You should
try some or all of them depending on your comfort level with syntax
and concepts. Answers to all odd-numbered exercises are given at the
end of the text.
o Study “Comments,” p. 109.
Do Exercises 4.1, nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 41.
o Study “Comments,” p. 121.
Do Exercises 4.2, nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 17, 18, 21, 23, 28, 38.
o Study “Comments,” p. 139. Do Exercises 4.3, nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29.
Additional Resources—Note: All resources are found on the Web
and are not affiliated with Thomas Edison State College.
http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_tomtech_10/
S-21
o Microsoft Developers Network, Getting Started Tutorials
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-
us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx)
o Channel9’s Visual Basic Fundamental Series: Declaring:
Branching with the If … Then … Else Decision Statement - 06
(http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic- Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Branching-with-the-If--
--Then----Else-Decision-Statement-06)
Written Assignment 3 (Submit by Sunday of Week 5)
Submit complete answers to the following end-of-chapter Review Questions from the Digital Planet: Tomorrow’s Technology and You
textbook.
Chapter 5: Review Questions 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 Chapter 7: Review Questions 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10
Chapter 5 and Chapter 7 Quizzes (Take by Friday of Week 6)
The quizzes for Chapter 5 and Chapter 7 each consist of 20 multiple-
choice questions based on the assigned reading. You may take these 20-
minute quizzes as often as you want until the due date, at which time your mentor will “lock in” your last recorded score as your grade on the
quiz. The launch links for the quizzes are available within the course Web
site.
Programming Assignment 3 (Submit by Sunday of Week 6)
Programming Exercises
Do the following exercises from An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2012. To submit your assignment, first create a ZIP file of the
application folder for each exercise (see “Appendix: A Note on
Submitting Programming Assignments” at the end of the syllabus). Then upload and submit all of the ZIP files (compressed folders) to the
assignment link provided in the Assignments area of the course Web site.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd492171(v=vs.110).aspx
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Branching-with-the-If----Then----Else-Decision-Statement-06
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Branching-with-the-If----Then----Else-Decision-Statement-06
http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Visual-Basic-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/Branching-with-the-If----Then----Else-Decision-Statement-06
S-22
1. Programming project no. 2, p. 161
2. Programming project no. 3, p. 162
ASSIGNMENT MODULE 4
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this assignment, you should be able to:
List and describe the fundamental technology needed in
telecommunication today.
Compare and contrast wide area networks and local area networks.
Summarize the uses of a variety of practical applications of
telecommunications such as e-mail, teleconferencing, and instant
messaging.
Discuss the impact of wireless technology on our daily lives and our
work environments.
Indicate three reasons why people use networks, the so-called
network advantage.
List different types of crime associated with computers along with
possible crime-prevention measures taken to reduce or eliminate
these crimes.
Discuss the important security issues that have arisen as computers
become a vital part of our daily lives.
Distinguish between computer security and computer privacy.
__________
Write programs in Visual Basic 2012 while being guided by the six steps of the program development cycle: analyze the problem, design
a solution, choose the interface, write code, test and debug your
solution, and document code.
Combine sequential, repetition, and decision structures, as required,
to create well-structured program code.
Break up a complex task into smaller and smaller problems that make
it easier for analysis and code writing.