Designing applications with Visual Basic
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| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown.
Summary
This course in object-oriented programming will teach you how to design and write small applications using Visual Basic Express. Software applications discussed in the course range from a very simple traffic survey application, to more complex applications that are linked to a database. Roughly one third of the course consists of important practical Visual Basic Express programming exercises, using web-based units. You’ll also use printed course books that use a design language similar to Visual Basic (VB), to learn essential programming skills. You should be ready to study computing at Level 2 and ideally have some programming experience.
Course content
The course is presented in four blocks. Each contains three printed units and one web-based unit. The web-based unit contains the practical work associated with the three printed units. The practical work uses an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), namely the Visual Basic Express Edition, which will be supplied on a DVD. Other course-based software will be downloadable from the course website.
Whereas the web-based units implement the practical work in VB, the printed units use a slightly abstracted design code, allowing greater emphasis to be placed on generic programming issues.
The main contents of the four blocks are:
Block 1 introduces the IDE, designing simple graphical user interfaces and writing simple code for the interface using supplied code. Issues such as usability and accessibility are discussed.
Block 2 develops VB syntax and discusses designing and writing the code that is behind the user interface. You’ll finish by designing a complete application for simple encrypting of pieces of text that consolidates the ideas in Blocks 1 and 2.
Block 3 looks at handling text, graphics and sound. It deals with fonts and colour as well as more complex graphical ideas. The contents include discussion of saving and loading files and a short discussion of printing. The final unit looks at ideas about animation and designing simple games. Several complete applications will be developed in the practical work.
Block 4 mainly concerns databases, one of the most common uses of software today. It teaches enough about databases to enable the development of simple applications making use of an existing database. It does not teach design of databases but how to use them. The final unit gives an overview of the course and revisits many of the ideas. It also shows how the design language used is a portable skill by translating a simple class design into C#.
The course emphasizes good code design and documentation for portability and ease of maintenance. There’s also an emphasis placed on the need to keep the design and coding of the underlying model separate from the design and coding of the user interface.
You will learn
After studying this course, you’ll be able to design and write small software applications. Application design will be in two parts: the user interface and the underlying model that does the work of the application.
Entry
There are no formal prerequisites, however this is a Level 2 course and so you should be ready for studying computing at this level. You also need experience of using a PC running Microsoft Windows, working with files and folders, and creating and editing text files using simple text-editing software. Experience of writing small programs would be most useful, but this is not essential if you have an aptitude to pick up programming reasonably quickly. Good preparation would be Data, computing and information (M150), in particular its optional Units 9 and 10 and we would expect you to have done the programming exercise in TMA05. You can also try the quiz Are you ready for MT264?
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
MT264 is an optional course in our
- Diploma in Computing (D12)
- Diploma in Information Technology (D39)
- BSc (Honours) Information Technology and Computing (B13)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (B24)
- BSc (Honours) Computing and Design (B44)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical and scientific materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
The course contains a significant amount of practical work using a computer. Students with visual impairments may have difficulty with some parts of the course. It may be necessary to have an amanuensis to help with some parts of the practical work.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
A DVD-ROM containing VB Express and some associated software, 12 printed units, 4 web-based units, course guide, software guide, course handbook and course website.
You will need
You require internet access at least once a week during the course to download course resources and to keep up to date with course news.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will be assigned a tutor who will support your study on the course by a mixture of formal and informal contact and marking your assignments. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2010. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
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Support and guidance from tutors and those responsible for the course was, as always with the OU, excellent. The course ...
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