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 a professor 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 should work well for you.  Good time management skills, self-discipline, and motivation, are required to complete the course at a distance. It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that you have the required personal skills in order to be successful in a online class.  You should expect to spend at least 6 hours per week working in this class.

Course Description

     This is an introductory course designed to help students develop a basic knowledge and understanding of computer programming concepts.  To take the 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. Tests will be administered on-line.  Projects will be submitted on-line using email with attachments. In addition to the Visual Basic software provided, you will need to have access to Word (or NotePad) to answer questions on certain assignments.   You will receive an email towards the end of the first week of class giving you access to a Website where you can order the entire Visual Studio 2005 suite CD's for a nominal charge. You can also download the program from this site, but Visual Studio  is so large that this is a very time consuming task.

PLEASE NOTE THAT VISUAL BASIC 2005 REQUIRES WINDOWS XP or WINDOWS 2000.  Be sure that you have access to a computer that can run the software used in this class. The library on the main campus has a computer lab available for student use.

To Get Started  

  Before the term starts, it is recommended that you do the following:

1. Visit the Web site and review the syllabus. You can enter the course (ecampus.scc-fl.edu) no later than the first or second day of the term.  If you register during the Add/Drop period, there will be a slight delay getting your login and password entered in ANGEL. Before class starts, you can review ANGEL Information at the following address: http://www.scc-fl.edu/dl/angel/  At this link you will find  important links about ANGEL that you will need to use during the term.
2. Click on http://www.scc-fl.edu/dl/students/ which is the Student Support Information on the DL page. Visit the four links listed under student support. Find out if Distance Learning is right for you by completing the Successful Distance Learning Skills Survey.
3. Purchase the textbooks and review them so that you can see the depth of the work and assignment material.  Reviewing the syllabus on the Web site, the course calendar, and the textbooks will give you an idea of what will be expected of you in the course.
4. Be sure you know how to access your SCC email account (mymail.scc-fl.edu). This is the account where you will receive an email with software download information.

5. Be ready to go THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS.  There is no slack time and you must have everything in place.  Participation in this class is mandatory.

Withdrawal Policy   

     All class meetings are online.  This is how you attend class. To avoid being withdrawn from the class, you MUST log into ANGEL by May 12, 2008.  If you do NOT login, you will miss more than ten percent of the class and are subject to being withdrawn from the course per SCC policy. Students who are administratively withdrawn for lack of online attendance will NOT be reinstated under any circumstances.  Please be aware of this policy.

Required Materials  

     You may purchase the required textbook at the SCC bookstore.  You may also visit the SCC Bookstore website at www.scc.bkstr.com  to order your book online.

Visual Basic 2005 for Windows, Mobile, Web , Office, and Database Applications - Comprehensive
          (bundled with Visual   Basic software),
    Authors:   Shelly/Cashman/Hoisington
    Publisher: Cengage Learning 2007
    ISBN:        1423932919

ANGEL

ANGEL is a course management program where 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.  You will use your MYSCC user id and a  Password to enter the course.   

I encourage each of you to complete the ANGEL tutorials prior to the course.

Your ANGEL ID:    

Your login ID for ANGEL is the same ID that you created in order to use MySCC (http://my.scc-fl.edu).  (Clicking this link will not allow you to return to this welcome letter as it is a secure connection.)  However, all ANGEL IDs must be entered in lowercase.  ANGEL is case sensitive. 

(If you have used ANGEL before during previous terms and logged in using your seven-digit SCC number, this number is no longer valid.  You must use the new id that you created in MySCC beginning with summer term 2004.)

Your ANGEL Password:

Your password is auto-generated and is reset to the default every semester.  Your Password is your first and last initial, followed by the six digits of your birth date in the yymmdd format, where yy is the two digit year (don't use the 19 in the 19yy format) mm is the two digit month (Jan.-Sept. months must use a leading 0) dd is the two digit day (1st-9th must use a leading 0).  Make sure that there are no spaces between the items and the letters are lowercase.  

Example: If your name is John Doe and you were born on March 1, 1977 your password would be: jd770301

       You must use both your ANGEL ID and your ANGEL password in order to enter the course. 

Hardware and Software Requirements  

     You are required to have access to a computer with Internet access, an e-mail address, and be familiar with using e-mail and Internet usage.  For best results, please use a version 5 Internet browser.  You must have Windows XP or 2000 to run Visual Studio 2005.

   If you buy the textbook new from the campus bookstore,  diskettes for Visual Basic 2005 will be included with the text.  You will also receive an email towards the end of the first week of class, giving you access to a Website where you can order the entire Visual Studio 2005 suite CD's for a nominal charge. Another option is to download the program from this site, but Visual Studio 2005 is so large that this is a very time consuming task.

SCC belongs to the Microsoft Academic Alliance. This allows us to provide full professional versions of certain software free of charge. If you order the CD's, there is a nominal expense to cover the material and shipping, but is well worth it because then you have a copy of the software.

  If you do not have a computer or your computer is not capable of running Windows XP and/or Visual Studio 2005, you will have to come to the main campus library or the computer lab on the Oviedo campus to do your assignments. See http://www2.scc-fl.edu/labhours/scchours.htm for open lab hours. Please be aware that hardware and software problems are not an excuse for late assignments. You can use the lab on campus if you are having hardware and/or software problems.

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.