Welcome to the Advanced Visual Basic course, CIS256/67. This course will cover more advanced features in Visual Basic with an emphasis on databases, web sites, object oriented concepts and some additions like LINQ, WPF and Web Matrix. VB 2012 will be used. Students can experiment with VB 2013 if they want to. The course will cover a lot of material and help you to become proficient with Visual Basic as a programming language and as a tool for database and web development.

If you are taking this as a Web based course it is extremely important that you either own a computer or have daily access to a computer. For students taking the course over the Web, the computer is your only source for information and the way you will communicate with the instructor.

If you want to work at home, you need to acquire the professional version or both VB Express for desktop and for web.

The Web site that you are currently visiting will contain all information for this course. It is a resource for students in the classroom and the method of delivery for students taking the course over the Web. The class notes, sample VB programs as well as some presentations on the material will all be posted at the site as well as the assignments. The site will also list tutorials and other sites on the Web where information can be obtained. The assigned text book will be covered. In addition to the list of assignments, there is also a week by week schedule to help the student keep current. I usually update the site four or five times a week, so be sure to check it on a regular basis.

For in class students and Web students, assignments should be turned in the same or following week. Visual Basic projects as well as other projects have a specified due date that should be met. I accept late papers with no individual penalty or point loss. The problem is that there is a lot of work and if you get behind you risk completing the course. In addition, 10% of your grade is based on participation, quality of work, getting things in on time etc., so chronic lateness will affect your grade.

Students should send me assignments via email. Students should pass in only one assignment per email. The class code (CIS256), your name and the assignment name should be on the subject line. If you have questions or need help, send a separate email with CIS256, your name and either the word question or help in the subject. I respond first to those emails and file the assignments to be corrected when I have accumulated a group. On most assignments, if you get a bad grade you can either resubmit or do a make-up. If I have heavily corrected the assignment and the answers are there, needless to say you cannot resubmit. Make-up assignments will be posted upon request, if appropriate.

If you need help, see me or e-mail me and we will figure out the best response. Better to see as soon as you see signs of a problem! You can send me drafts of assignments with particular questions over e-mail and I will respond as soon as possible. With rare exception I check my Web site every day and on days when I am not at BCC, I usually check it multiple times (that means Wednesday and over the weekend). I am willing to set up review sessions or question and answer sessions for students.