Mr. Offenbecker

Homeroom #250

Email:  offenbeckerm@bcschools.net

Website:  http://offenbecker.com

 

QBASIC Programming

Course Syllabus

 

Overview:

QBASIC is a one-term course that satisfies half of the technology credits required for graduation.  Students are expected to have successfully completed CCC1 or Technology 1  Because of these prerequisites, students should be skilled in the use of MS Word, Excel, and Access.  Furthermore, students should have the ability to effectively manage electronic files and directories.

 

Objectives:

·         Students will learn the operation of the QBASIC interpreter. 

·         Students will be introduced to the concepts of program planning and design. 

·         Students will increase problem-solving skills.

·         Students will gain an understanding of the discipline of computer programming.

·         Students will be able to create working, error-free programs.

·         Students will explore career options related to computer science.

Methods/Materials Used:

Our primary resource will be the QBASIC interpreter (which is like software).  It is available on computers in room #C205.  It is also available for you to download if you wish to do work at home.  We also have a textbook that you may check out.

 

We will also use a course management system called MOODLE. 

 

Supplies Needed:

Students are expected to come to class each day prepared with the following supplies:  textbook, pen/pencil, a 70-pg spiral notebook for note taking, and a folder to save completed work.  Students also need their username and password in order to logon to the school server.  If you do not have this information memorized or do not use it on a regular basis, you may want to write it down somewhere.

 

Grading Policy:

Student grades are determined based on the points they earn throughout each marking period.  All points are added and divided by the total possible in order to get a percentage.  The term grade will consist of the following points:

 

Category

Points

Daily Programming Work

60

Quizzes

90

Starters

20

Notebook

20

Homework

10

Total

200

 

 

The BCPS adopted grading scale will be used when converting percentages to letter grades..

 

Daily Programming Work:

Each day, students are evaluated on the work they have done in class.  Our class will typically be working on a specific programming project, but students may be in different stages of completion.  Your programming work grade is based on using your programming time appropriately each day, regardless of successful completion of a project.  Essentially, if you are using your time to work on our class work, you will do well in this area.  If you finish a program early, exploration or extension programs will be available to work on.  It is expected that you are spending your programming time on programming.  Students will receive bi-weekly feedback regarding their progress in this area.

 

Another way to look at it is that you get about 1 point each day for programming.  If you are using your time for programming, you will typically earn that point.  If not, you won’t.

 

Quizzes:

There will be nine quizzes during the term (about once a week beginning at the end of week 2). A few are multiple choice, but most are performance quizzes.  During a performance quiz, you will typically have the entire class period to complete the quiz.  Generally, if you have been keeping up on the class projects, the quizzes are very similar to class projects.  Each quiz is worth 10 points. It is important that students have a strong knowledge of programming concepts to be successful on quizzes.  Students will be allowed to use notes they have taken in class.

 

Starters:

Starters are fairly short programs given at the start of some classes. Sometimes, the starter will be an assignment on the board or overhead; other starters will simply be code that needs to be copied. Students are to begin immediately when class begins, as there will only be 5 – 10 minutes allotted for the starter assignment.  We will discuss starters after this time and points will be given for participation as well as completion of the starter assignment. If a student is absent for a starter, they must make it up outside of class or they will not be given credit.  

 

Notebook:

Students will take notes regularly in class.  A thin spiral notebook should be adequate to last throughout the semester.  Notebooks will be collected twice during the term and a 10- point grade will be given each time based on neatness, organization, and level of completion.  Notebooks are also available to students quizzes so it is useful to take good notes. Notebooks MUST be hand-written.

 

Homework:

Homework will be given occassionally.  Typically, homework is assigned on Monday and collected on Friday, although this changes occasionally. 

 

Collaborative Work:

Programming is often a difficult concept for some students to learn.  It is often helpful to look at what others have done and discuss problems with others.  Both students typically benefit from working on a problem together, so it is expected that you will help each other out this year (expect on quizzes J)  However, be aware that some students become too dependent on others and perform miserably on quizzes when forced to work alone.  If someone helps you with a problem, be sure that you understand the concepts; ask them to explain WHY rather than just WHAT.   If you are helping someone else with their program, try to explain the concepts behind what you are helping with.

  

Website Feature:

There is a website dedicated to this class.  The address is found above.  This website will be updated often (at least once a week) and shows a schedule of what we are doing in class along with a summary of most assignments.  If you have the Internet at home, you should be able to access this site from there in case of absence. 

 

Late Assignments:

When homework is assigned, a due date will be given.  Late work is accepted, but your score will be reduced by 20% for up to one week late and 50% thereafter.  All work turned in during the last week of the marking period is reduced 50%.

 

Classroom Expectations:

 

  1. Be Courteous:  To anyone else in the room – other students, teachers, visitors…etc.

 

  1. Our Time, Our Curriculum:  We will use the entire period to become better programmers.  You may finish your work, but you haven’t finished learning about programming.  If you are finished with the assignment, pick something productive to explore (or you teacher will pick something for your). 

 

  1. Work Quietly:  We’ll be moving around, we’ll be asking questions, we’ll be offering advice, but we also need to realize that there are other classes and we need to avoid distractions.

 

  1. Be Prepared:  Come to class with the materials listed above.

 

  1. Follow school policies:  Please avoid asking me do things my boss says I shouldn’t, like allowing students in the hall without planners/ID’s or having cell phones or MP3 players…etc. 

 

  1. Hold yourself Accountable:  Be responsible for your own work.  Computers crash, teachers pile on work, people get sick, and life happens around us – in the real world, none of this acts as an excuse for not getting the job done.  Always be aware of deadlines and due dates and work toward finishing.  If you miss class, visit the website, get the work, copy notes from a friend, and/or arrange a seminar visit. 

 

  1. Use your Chair:  Be ready to work when the beginning bell rings and be in your seat when the ending bell rings.

 

  1. Have pride in your school:  Treat your surroundings with care and pride.

 

Special Considerations:

Because of the nature of this course, there are several special considerations, which students must take into mind.

1.         Homework is not given often, but at times it may be necessary for students to come in early, stay late, or use seminar time in the CAI lab to complete projects. 

2.        Because of the computer lab setting, food or beverage, including gum and candy, is not allowed in the classroom. 

3.        Your machines and workstations are to be left in the condition that you found them. 

a.        Workstations are to be CLEAN.  Please take care of papers, assignment sheets, books, returned assignment…etc.  Tuck your chair in at the end of the day.

b.        Your computer should be logged off and at the logon screen (unless your class occurs after lunch, in which case you are to shut down completely.)

c.         Your machine should contain the files that were present when you came into class and no additional files unless you are specifically given permission by the teacher.  THIS MEAN NO DELETING PROGAMS AND ABSOLUTELY NO DOWNLOADING.

 

If there is something wrong with your machine or workstation at the start of class, you need to inform me immediately and I will discuss the issue with the person in the previous hour.  If the person in the next hour has a problem, IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU.  Misuse of your workstation can result in loss of computer privileges (making it VERY tough to pass), detention, or administrative action.

 

This will be a fun class and a fun semester.  Enjoy!