Remote Instruction: Teaching with Visual Basic

Remote Instruction:Teaching with Visual Basic

EDU 556 Programming for Instruction

Dr. Steve Broskoske

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Teaching Techniques with VB

Displaying 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 Page

Use 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 Control

View Website

WebBrowser1.Navigate("http://www.url.com")

Dim WebAddress As string

WebAddress = http://www.url.com

WebBrowser1.Navigate(WebAddress)

On a form, draw a Web Browser control, and create a button. This functions like a lock-down browser.

2) Link Label Control

Navigate 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 string

WebAddress = http://www.url.com

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(string_variable)

Opening Other Files

System.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 Text

Display Text

lblDisplay

Display Picture

PictureBox1.Visible = True

lblDisplay.Visible = True

These techniques provide interactivity!

Creating Embedded Questions

Good 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 Questions

Embedded question.

If RadioButton1.Checked = True Then

lblFeedback.text = Good

Else

lblFeedback.text = Not correct because

End If

See Answer

RadioButton1

RadioButton2

Radiobutton3

Instead 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 Questions

Test question.

If RadioButton1.Checked = True Then

totalCorrect = totalCorrect + 1

form10.show

Me.close

End If

Next

RadioButton1

RadioButton2

Radiobutton3

At 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 Document

Review ofVisual Basic 2010 Express Elements

Finishing Touches

Set 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 Planning

Plan 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 Planning

Plan 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 Planning

Apply 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.