IDSC 3102

INTERMEDIATE PROGRAMMING
Soumya Sen
Information and Decision Sciences
Carlson School of Management
Email: ssen@umn.edu
Office hours: W 3:30 4:30 pm, CSOM 3-370

4/4/15

A bit about me
Faculty, IDSc, Carlson School, UMN
Background: Computer, Electrical, Systems engineering
Researcher, Princeton University
PhD, University of Pennsylvania
MS, University of Pennsylvania
Research interest:
Computer networks, mobile networks, social networks, user
behavior field experiments
Researched at:
Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ.
Intel, Inc., Santa Clara, CA.

4/4/15

Class Resources
Visual Basic on each machine
Individualized desktop
Save all files
VB Version Incompatibility Issues
Mac OS Boot Camp, Parallels
Code Backup Network drives, Google/Dropbox
TA:
Hieu Nyugen Section 1
T 3 4 pm, MIS Lab, nguy2261@umn.edu
4/4/15

Textbook
Required textbook: (compulsory)
David Schneider Introduction to Programming Using Visual
Basic 2012
VB 2012 CD included in the book. Available for free online or from
MSDNA
VB Available Online:
http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/

4/4/15

Course Overview
IDSC 3101
Event-driven programming
Variables and Controls, Input & Output
Decisions: If-Then, Select Case
Subroutines and Functions
Loops: Do-While, For-Next
Arrays

How to store and process multiple variables, strings etc. (e.g.,

from a list of items)?

4/4/15

Course Overview (2)

Multi-dimensional Arrays

How to store and process contents of a table (e.g., rows and

columns)?

Files & Databases

How to work with text files?

How to work with databases?

Object-oriented Programming

Objects and classes, properties, events, inheritance etc.

4/4/15

Class Priorities
Your demonstrated programming skills and knowledge
are the most important criteria - Quizzes
Ability to read and write codes - HWs
Knowledge of when and how to use different
constructs (e.g., arrays, files, databases, OOP) - HWs
Secret: Practice, Practice, Practice!
4/4/15

Student HW Groups
Group Size 2

unless instructor needs to randomly assign an odd number of students to

one group depending on the class size

Both must contribute equally (Discussion on Conflict Management)

Follow Moodle and class to be informed about Assignments
Before an assignment is announced:

You can form your own groups by letting the TAs know who will be in your
group (and cc your group partner in the mail)
You can change group before each assignment
You can also mail us in advance if you want to do it individually
Else you will be randomly assigned a partner on the day of the assignment
announcement

4/4/15

HW Policy
Group HWs

HW can be done either individually or in groups of 2

Groups can be re-assigned before each HW if either partner
wishes
HWs to be uploaded to Moodle

Plagiarism or Cheating will be punished

Submit HWs on Moodle in .zip format

Follow instructions issued in the syllabus

Seek help from TAs well in advance if needed

4/4/15

Grading
4 Assignments (5% for HW1 + 3 HWs 10% each): 35%
3 In-class Programming Quizzes (20% each): 60%
Class participation: 5%
No separate Midterm or Final Exams
Programming Ability necessary
HWs: 1 point deducted for every hour after the deadline

4/4/15

Course Timeline

4/4/15