Remote Instruction: Teaching with Visual Basic

Remote Instruction:Teaching with Visual BasicEDU 556 Programming for InstructionDr. Steve BroskoskeThis is an audio PowerCast. Make sure your volume is turned up, and press F5 to begin. Click to advance as usual.

Teaching Techniques with VBDisplaying Web pages in 2 ways.Extra: Open a Word or PowerPoint document.Display hidden text / pictures.Create embedded questions with feedback.Create a test.

2 Ways to Display a Web PageUse a button with a Web Browser control:WebBrowser1.Navigate(URL OR variable)Use a link label control:System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(URL OR variable)

1) Web Browser ControlView WebsiteWebBrowser1.Navigate("http://www.url.com")Dim WebAddress As stringWebAddress = http://www.url.comWebBrowser1.Navigate(WebAddress)On a form, draw a Web Browser control, and create a button. This functions like a lock-down browser.

2) Link Label ControlNavigate to a Web page in Internet Explorer.On a form, create a link label. Double-click the link label to add code to it. The link will open in Internet Explorer (or whatever the default browser is on that particular PC).System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("http://www.url.com")Dim WebAddress As stringWebAddress = http://www.url.comSystem.Diagnostics.Process.Start(string_variable)

Opening Other FilesSystem.Diagnostics.Process.Start(C:\MyDocument.docx")You could use this same pattern of coding to open up a Word, PowerPoint, or any other file on the PC.

Displaying Hidden TextDisplay TextlblDisplay

Display PicturePictureBox1.Visible = TruelblDisplay.Visible = TrueThese techniques provide interactivity!

Creating Embedded QuestionsGood idea to embed questions: promotes interactivity (active interaction vs. passive reading).Questions not graded.Provide feedback to user.Questions are an instructional technique.

Creating Embedded QuestionsEmbedded question.If RadioButton1.Checked = True Then lblFeedback.text = GoodElse lblFeedback.text = Not correct becauseEnd IfSee AnswerRadioButton1RadioButton2Radiobutton3Instead of tallying the number of correct answers, provide feedback to the user. These questions can be used as drill and practice of the material.Use the If statement to see if the checked property for the correct answer is true.Feedback.

Creating Test QuestionsTest question.If RadioButton1.Checked = True Then totalCorrect = totalCorrect + 1 form10.show Me.closeEnd IfNextRadioButton1RadioButton2Radiobutton3At the end of the lesson, ask several test questions. Do not give feedback. Instead, just tally the correct answers to determine a score.Use the If statement to see if the checked property for the correct answer is true.

Review DocumentReview ofVisual Basic 2010 Express Elements

Finishing TouchesSet the text property so that your program name appears rather than form 1.Set the startPosition property to center screen on each form to make each form display uniform.To prevent the user from maximizing your form, set the maximizebox property to false.To prevent the user from resizing your form to a larger size, check the current height and width of the form in the size property. Plug these numbers into the maximumSize property.If you want your program to open in full screen mode, set the windowState property to maximize.

Project PlanningPlan to create a program that will teach something to your students.Plan to use the following teaching techniques:Embedded questions with feedback.Test questions that tally student score.Teach using text, pictures, Web browsing.Incorporate interactivity.

Project PlanningPlan to use the following VB elements:Variables.A global variable (to tally student score).Ifthen statements.Gather student input using text boxes, radio buttons, and/or check boxes.Output information using labels.

Project PlanningApply finishing touches:Ensure that the program runs effectively and consistently throughout.This weeks in-person class will be a brainstorming, planning, and lab session. Choose the material you would like to teach, plan some embedded and test questions, and gather some resources for teaching. A project rubric and examples will be shared.