- An undergraduate course
in
Computing and IT.
Designing applications with Visual Basic
- On this page
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | MT264 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 8 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
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.
Modules at Level 2 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at Level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.
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What you will study
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 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) (now discontinued), 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.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability
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 study 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 have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Services for disabled students website for more information, including:
- help to determine your study requirements and how to request the support that you need
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- using a computer for OU study
- equipment and other support services that we offer
- examination arrangements
- how to contact us for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study 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 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.
In order to successfully run the module software, we recommend that you have a minimum of 1GB of memory (RAM) on the computer that you will use for your studies.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course. It includes online activities – you can access using a web browser – and some course software provided on disk.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2007 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
- A netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device is not suitable for this course – check our Technical requirements section.
- If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
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 will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.
Student Reviews
“I enjoyed this course. I think this was due to the practical nature of the excercises, in which you actually ...”
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“Great Course! I've used Visual Basic.Net since it came out and I still learnt a few things. Good Points: The ...”
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Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
Undergraduate
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | MT264 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 8 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
Your questions
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