This CIS159 class will be taught using an online format. When a class is uses an online approach, class materials and all course activities are delivered over the Internet via the GCC BlackBoard web site . Students will use an Internet connected device (PC or mobile device) from home or at GCC and use a web browser program (i.e. Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft IE, Google Chrome or Opera) to connect to course resources. Class meetings on GCC Campus are not required but optional study sessions to provide one on one interaction with the Instructor and other students may be available based on student interest.

• This class will use Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express and Microsoft Web Developer 2008 Express which can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft Web Site (http://www.microsoft.com/express/).
• The pre-requisite for CIS159 is CIS105 or permission of Instructor.
• The class will have a fixed start and stop date with will coincide with GCC Spring 2009 class schedule (16 weeks).
• Students are responsilble for completing the weekly assignments on the dates they are assigned.
• Online tests have been tentatively scheduled in weeks 4, 8 12 and 16 and a comprehensive final during finals week. Tests are to be taken when assigned unless prior arrangment has been made with Instructor.
• A weekly status email must be sent to the instructor on the Friday of the class week. This emails are part of final grade. Email can come from the students GCC email account or another personal email account..
• The class is delivered over the Internet via a web browser. Students will connect to the GCC (BlackBoard (Bb) site and my (Instructor site ) for lectures, quizzes, tests, assignments and discussion.
• Bb will hold class grades.

I will provide the instruction (via lectures, video lessons, assignments, discussion and tests) on-line (via Bb )and all content except Tests and Quizzes from my faculty web site (as a back up to Bb). Each of you will be required read the lectures, textbook, and complete the exercises, assignments and tests on the assigned dates. The class material is organized by weeks. There are sixteen weeks in the Spring 2009 semester so there will be sixteen entries in Bb (also available as a back up to Bb on my faculty web site (web.gccaz.edu/~gmarrer). There is one entry for each week. Students will return assignments to an assignment folder (setup for our CIS159 class only) on the student GCC server and participate in discussion electronically over the Internet via BlackBoard software. More instructions on using Bb, completinhg weekly activities, taking tests, and submitting assignments will be covered in in Week one of class.

You can use all of the technology tools needed for class from the GCC Campus High Tech Centers. If you want to access lectures, discussion areas and quizzes from home you will need a connection to the Internet and can use either the Mozilla FireFox, Microsoft IE, Google Chrome or Opera Internet browsers. If you wish to do assignments from home, you will need to install the Visual Basic.Net 2008 and Web Developer Express 2008 Editions (free downloads from Microsoft). System requirements and installation instructions for Visual Basic and Web Developer are available on the Microsoft 2008 Express web site.

I have taught on-line classes for several years using several on-line course management tools (WebCT, WebBoard, BlackBoard, Midas, etc.). These on-line learning tools are the same and they are different than traditional classes. They are the same in that both on-line and traditional class formats use a textbook, tests, lectures along with tests and labs to teach you Visual Basic.NET. They are different in that on-line classes require the motivation to work at readings and assignments daily. Many believe that on-line classes are easier and require less effort. This is a fallacy. There is more flexibility with on-line classes but not less work. One of the primary success factors for any programming class is to stay up with the reading assignments. This is critical. You will have weekly quizzes to test your reading comprehension of important chapter topics. You will also be required to send weekly emails that status the work you have done so I can follow your progress.

One requirement to participate on-line classes is that you need to know how to use the on-line tools. During our week, we will review Bb and the format of the class together in an online discussion group. I will have video tutorials (mine and the GCC Student Help Desk) to provide all the tools necessary to get started. With email, telephones and on campus meetings (if necessary) I can help you through any problems that come up. I have taught VB for more than ten years and I have taught it as a hybrid or online for more than 8 years. I have yet to have a question that could be answered with an email or phone call.

1. From your PC browser, go to BlackBoardweb site
2. Setup your username and password if you do not have one
3. Review Bb tutorials
4. Access Class from Bb main screen
5. Go to Discussion page and complete a student Biography
6. Read Lecture One and Textbook Chapter 1
7. Take the Quiz for Week One
8. Watch Bb and Visual Basic Video Tutorials
9. Send me a status email on Friday of Week One
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You may have noticed at the top of this page a statement about mobile devices. Web pages created for this class will be also formatted so that they can be read from Internet ready mobile devices (cell phones, PDA's and MP3 players). There is free wifi access on the GCC Campus.