Hello & Welcome

COP2360 Online  @ SCC

    
Thank you for enrolling in COP2360, C# Programming. I would like to welcome you to this on-line course. I am looking forward to working with each of you and hope that you will find the course both enjoyable and informative. My name is Dick Grant and I am the instructor for the course. My e-mail address is grantd@scc-fl.edu. Please visit my web site  and review the syllabus. This site is not password protected. E-mail me with any questions you have. 

     Distance Learning Considerations: To succeed in a Web-based course, you should be motivated, self-directed, and willing to work on your own. This type of course is not for everyone. If you like to interact regularly in person with an instructor and classmates, this is probably not the course for you. If you can solve computer problems on your own without asking for much help, this type of instruction is right down your alley. Good time management skills, self-discipline, and motivation are required to complete this course.  A self-evaluation survey is available at the distance learning support site to help you determine if a distance learning course is right for you.

     Course Description:  This is a beginning course in C# programming. It is not a beginning programming course. If you have never programmed before, you must take the prerequisite for this course, COP1000 Principles of Programming. (COP1000 is also offered online.)

This course will introduce you to the syntax and use of the C# programming language. You will be designing, coding, and testing C# applications. It is very much a hands-on course. That is, you will have programming assignments that are due throughout the term. You may submit these projects before their due date. However, late submissions will be penalized as described in the course syllabus. The course syllabus is available from my home page.

To take this course in the on-line format you must have basic computer skills such as using e-mail, navigating the Web, and using the keyboard and mouse. Exams will be administered online. Assignments will be submitted online.

    To Get Started: I recommend you do the following when the term starts : 

• Go to the course site and read through the syllabus and other general course information. Most of your questions will be answered there, so be sure to read carefully!
  
  • The URL for the course site is: http://ecampus.scc-fl.edu 
    
  • You will need to have your Angel Login ID and Password ready to log in to Angel.  Visit the DL Student Support site for more information on login IDs and passwords.  You must create your login and password by visiting the MySCC site.  Please complete the online problem form if you have any difficulty logging into Angel or call the DL office at (407) 328-2424. 
    
• Purchase your textbook and review it so that you can see the depth of the work and assignment material. Reviewing the syllabus, class calendar, and the textbook will give you an idea of what will be expected of you in the course. Be prepared and keep up with your reading and assignments.

• Complete the check in process before the end of the first week of class.
• Log in to the Angel course site at least once every two weeks.
• Substantially complete and submit assignments. I will automatically withdraw you from class if you fail to substantially complete and submit any two consecutive assignments.

Exceptions to the above are granted under extraordinary circumstances such as illness, military commitments, or religious holidays.

     Required Materials: You may purchase the required textbook at the SCC bookstore (Visual C# 2005 How to Program, 2nd Edition. Deitel and Deitel. ISBN 0-13-152523-9). You may also visit the SCC Bookstore website to order your text.

     Angel: Angel is a course management program where much of the course resides. Student tracking, lecture notes, grades, and testing will take place within the Angel environment. You cannot actually enter the course on the site until the term begins and I place your name and ID into Angel. Hopefully I will have you entered within a day after the term starts. You will need an ID and Password to enter the course. If you have never used Angel you may want to visit this student support site for information on using this tool. This site doesn't require a login ID and password.

     The COP2360 site does require a login ID and password. Visit the DL Student Support site for more information on login IDs and passwords.  You must create your login and password by visiting the MySCC site. 

     Hardware and Software Requirements: You are required to have access to a computer with the following capabilities: ability to access the Internet; ability to send and receive email with attachments; ability to create, edit, compile, and execute C# source code (Microsoft Visual Studio .NET). You can acquire a free version of Visual Studio.Net once the class starts. Visual Studio.Net requires the Windows 2000 or later operating system. For best results, please use a version 4 (or newer) Internet browser. All of these are available in the open SCC computer labs if you don't have this capability at home.

SCC is a member of the Microsoft Developer's Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA).  As a member we make Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET Professional available for download to registered students.  This product contains MS C#.NET.  Information on downloading this software is available once you are registered and enter the course.

Students occasionally run into hardware or software problems at home or work that impact their ability to complete assignments. These hardware and or software problems are your responsibility. Do not expect extra time to complete assignments. I will work with you as best I can but the solution may be for you to come to the SCC campus and complete your assignments on PCs in the open labs.

You must have everything in place the first day of class. This entire course will be conducted on-line. Good luck and again, I very much look forward to working with you in this course.