Visual Basic Fundamentals

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$389

AUD

35% off

$599 AUD

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
1578 Students

Learn how to write code for Windows applications using the Visual Basic programming language and development environment.

Visual Basic is the most widely used programming language for creating Windows applications. Why? Because it's easy to learn, and doesn't require you to memorise difficult commands like other programming languages. In this course, you'll learn how to write Windows applications and programs using the Visual Basic programming language and the Visual Basic development environment.

Creating a Windows application ordinarily requires you to write lengthy and complex code. But, as you'll see, the Visual Basic development environment relieves you of this task. Instead, it enables you to create the application program and its components literally with the click of a button or menu item. It even writes all of the necessary code to get the application started for you, which you can then view and fine-tune.

Over the course of 12 lessons, you'll learn the building blocks of programming, including using variables to store data, control structures, and loops. You'll find out how to use the large function library built into Visual Basic, including the .NET Framework, as well as how to write and use your own functions. You'll also see how to use Windows' large and varied library of controls and how to access files and handle errors. And since Windows applications are event-driven and everything in Visual Basic is treated as a programmable object, you'll learn about event-driven and object-oriented programming—concepts that are important not just in Visual Basic, but in other programming languages as well.

Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.

What's the best way to learn Visual Basic programming? Well, you have to write programs, of course! And your first step toward writing your first program is to install Visual Basic. So in our opening lesson, you'll learn how to install Visual Basic Express on your computer. After that, we'll walk through creating your first Windows application program while we discuss how a Windows application works.

In the first lesson, you were able to create a working Windows application with just a few mouse clicks. In today's lesson, you'll find out what Visual Basic did behind the scenes to help you create that application. You'll also learn about properties, which are characteristics of an object—such as its size and color—and how to change those properties.

Windows applications are all about events, such as the event a user causes just by clicking a button in the application. Today you'll first learn about event procedures. Then you'll get your feet wet in Visual Basic by writing your first code.

So far, we've been focusing on the form, which is perhaps the most important part of a Windows application's graphical user interface (or GUI). However, a form's primary role is to host other controls that enrich the GUI of Windows applications—menus, toolbars, buttons, text boxes, and list boxes. In this lesson, you'll find out how to add controls to your form and how to write code for these controls.

Most computer programs store information, or data. Today you'll learn all about data types, which represent different varieties of data (such as numeric data or text data). Then we'll go over how to store that information in a variable.

As a former professional chess player, I've marveled at the ability of some computers to play world champion chess players on even terms. But once you understand that computers can calculate far more quickly and accurately than people can, it's easy to see how they're able to outplay the best players. In this lesson, you'll discover how to harness the computer's calculating ability using arithmetic operators.

As your programs become more sophisticated, they'll often branch in two or more directions based on whether a condition is true or false. For example, a calculator first needs to determine whether the user chose addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division before performing the indicated arithmetic. Today you'll see how to use comparison and logical operators to determine a user's choice.

Picking up where Lesson 7 left off, once you know the user's choice, you'll want to execute different code based on that choice. In this lesson, you'll learn how to use If and Select Case statements to execute alternative code statements.

When you were a child, your parents may have told you not to repeat yourself. But sometimes your code needs to repeat itself. For example, if your application's users enter invalid data, your code may continue to ask whether they want to retry or quit until they either enter valid data or quit. Today we'll explore how to use loops, which repeat code execution until a condition is no longer true. Then we'll delve into arrays, which may hold multiple values at one time and work very well with loops.

Many textbooks are several hundred pages long. Imagine how much harder a textbook would be to understand if it consisted of only one very long chapter, rather than being divided into manageable sections. Thankfully, chapters organize books into manageable chunks of information. In today's lesson, you'll learn how to similarly divide up your code into separate procedures. We'll explore two types of procedures—subroutines and functions—that help you organize your code.

When I finish writing something for the evening, I close my word-processing program, and I might even shut down my computer. Of course, the next evening I don't have to start over. What I wrote the previous evening is preserved. However, up until now, our programs haven't saved data so that it's available even after the application exits. Today we'll discuss how to write code that reads from and writes to a text file in order to preserve the data. You'll also learn how to add Open and Save dialog boxes, such as those used in sophisticated programs like Microsoft Word, so you can open a text file to read from it and save to a text file to write to it.

Nobody's perfect, right? Well, your applications won't always run perfectly either. Sometimes they'll stop due to a runtime error, also called an exception. In our final lesson, you'll find out how to prevent and handle exceptions.

Jeffrey Kent

Jeffrey A. Kent is a Professor of Computer Science, teaching both traditional and online classes. He has taught a number of computer programming languages, including C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, and Assembly. He is the published author of several c... Read more

Read Jeffrey Kent's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.

If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.

The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Visual Basic Fundamentals you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

Ready to get started?

Enrol Now

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Learn At Your Own Pace

We believe in personalised learning. That's why we provide all the tools and support you need to succeed at your own pace. With flexible learning, you'll stay motivated and retain more information. Plus, you can balance your studies with work and family commitments to make your dreams a reality.

We Won't Break The Bank

Education should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. That's why we offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry with payments plans for just $25 per week. Investing in your future is a smart choice and doesn’t have to break the bank.

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Visual Basic Fundamentals

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$389AUD

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Medical Transcription

Now Only

$389

AUD

35% off

$599 AUD

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
5295 Students

Learn how to transcribe the medical reports most often used in healthcare today, and discover how to get started and advance as a medical transcriptionist.

Take your first step toward a lucrative career as a medical transcriptionist! In this course, you'll learn how to transcribe the most common medical reports used in both inpatient and outpatient settings. We'll review a lot of the grammar you might have forgotten since high school and apply it to the reports. This knowledge will help prepare you to work almost anywhere in the medical field—doctors' offices, clinics, public health facilities, and hospitals. With this foundation, you'll be set to advance your education so you can work as a subcontractor for a company that outsources transcription, or you can eventually even take on your own clients—all from the comfort of your own home.

We'll go through each of the nine main report types—their formatting requirements, the components of each one, and how they are used in the clinical setting. We'll review grammar points in every lesson, pointing out important elements that will make your reports perfect. You'll also gain important clinical knowledge of major disease processes that are essential to enhance your skill as a medical documentation specialist.

Along the way, we'll download a free transcriber that you'll use to listen to dictation, and we'll cover how to use it to produce the reports in your word processor. These hands-on exercises will give you the practice you'll need to determine if this field is for you. We'll also go through the options you'll have now and in the future by developing the skills of a medical transcriptionist. By the end of this course, you'll know the basic report types, have clinical knowledge of major diseases, be able to correct grammar from dictated reports on the fly, and know the next steps you'll need to take!

In this first lesson, we'll look at the history of medical transcription as a career. You'll find out how the field has evolved into its modern form, and you'll explore the various skills and aptitudes that you'll need to succeed as a professional medical transcriptionist. You'll examine the type of work MTs produce, and we'll take a look at the MT's job today, where you might work, and what might be in store in the future for those working in this career field.

We'll start today by discussing the MT's tools of the trade. We'll review a few of the reference books and discuss the types of Web sites that MTs use for research. Then we'll take a look at the hardware and software that today's MTs use on the job. I'll talk you through downloading the free software we'll use in this course, and then we'll go through a quick tour on how to use it. By the end of this lesson, you'll be sitting at your computer, listening to a real medical dictation audio file and looking at the Express Scribe software on your screen. As you listen to the medical report, you'll practice starting, pausing, and rewinding the audio as you tap away on the keyboard.

There are nine report types that medical professionals use most often in both hospitals and clinics. So in this lesson we'll go over a variety of examples of real medical reports. We'll also do a quick review of medical correspondence. Medical letters aren't much different from traditional letters, but since you might not have typed a traditional letter in a while, you might need a refresher. We'll finish the lesson with some specific tips about pathology reports and how to handle numbers and measurements. Then you'll practice transcribing a medical letter and a pathology report.

We'll spend this lesson going over how to listen most effectively, discussing the difference between hearing and active listening. We'll also touch on many of the issues that keep voice recognition systems from replacing humans, including homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms. Then we'll discuss how you can use phonetics and vowel sounds (as well as a few other tricks!) to help you figure out a word or phrase in a muddled recording. Then we'll talk a bit about the radiology department and radiology reports, and we'll finish up by practicing transcribing one in today's assignment.

Today we're going to talk about some subjects that might make you cringe a little: grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation. But I promise this will be a painless, maybe even enjoyable, journey through some of the basic principles of writing that will help you become a better MT. Then, in our Practice Corner, we'll talk a little more about SOAP notes and then turn our attention to infectious diseases and medications. You'll also have the chance to transcribe a SOAP note and a radiology report in the assignment that accompanies the lesson.

We'll continue our examination of writing in this lesson by talking about style from the MT's perspective. When you're transcribing, you must follow editorial directions in spelling, capitalization, and typographical display. And it's those directions that are the style MTs need to be concerned about. I think you'll be surprised at how many different ways you can treat a single word. Should it be capitalized or lowercased? Should you abbreviate it, or should you spell it out? Should your numbers be in digit form or word form? These are the issues we'll be covering in this lesson. Finally, in our Practice Corner, we'll focus on the H&P report, and you'll have the chance to practice transcribing one.

No matter what you transcribe, one thing is a given: Medical terminology will be a huge part of it. That's what we'll be focusing on today. One thing to remember is that dictators aren't perfect. They might say one word when they actually mean another. Or they might say a word that has a sound-alike word, like cystitome and cystotome. If you have a good understanding of medical terminology, you can pinpoint the correct word to make sure your transcription is accurate. Then, in our Practice Corner, I'll review the basic nature of heart disease and its treatment. We'll also take a close look at another common disease: diabetes.

A critical component of the MT's work is the way you put your reports together. So in this lesson, we'll talk about how to break up your reports into sections with headings, subheadings, special line spacing, page breaks, and other formatting niceties. We'll also take a closer look at ways you can make your work easier by using word processing shortcuts, AutoText, macros, and templates. Mastering them will make you a faster and more efficient MT! In the Practice Corner, we'll focus on surgical reports. Surgical terminology is important to know, and it's also fascinating to take an inside look at what goes on in the operating room. The assignment for this lesson will include a surgical report to help you put to work all the new knowledge you've gained.

Another essential step in transcription is editing and proofreading your work. And that's what we'll concentrate on today. I'll start off by sharing some editing do's and don'ts as well as what to look for when you're proofreading. In our Practice Corner, we'll be covering a disease process that has, in some way, touched virtually everyone: cancer. Once you have an overview of cancer, we'll work on the consultation report. Physicians often ask specialists to further evaluate their patients, especially cancer patients. So this is a common report that you're likely to transcribe regularly. The assignment for this lesson includes a consult report to transcribe, and you'll also get to practice proofreading.

So far we've focused on the mechanical elements of medical transcription. But there is still a lot you need to know about clinical issues. So this will be a completely clinical lesson. We'll talk about classification systems and their transcription foibles. And now that you have the bones of grammar and style down, we're going to talk about some real bones. We'll begin by discussing information on fractures and spine levels. Finally, in our Practice Corner, we'll discuss discharge and death summaries. They are very similar reports, but we'll take a look at some of their subtle differences.

This lesson will be similar to the last in that it covers lots of clinical issues. It won't all be clinical, however. There are a few miscellaneous things that I want to make sure I share with you. They don't really fit into neat categories, so I've put them all here. Once we finish with these miscellaneous items, we'll jump back into some clinical issues. We'll be talking specifically about infections. Then we'll turn our attention to smaller parts of the body—cells and blood. Then, in our Practice Corner, you'll see how everything you've learned can come together in an autopsy report. This is probably the longest, most comprehensive report you'll ever come across. And, of course, you'll have the chance to transcribe an autopsy report in the assignment!

By now you have the tools and the knowledge you need to dip your toe into the waters of medical transcription. But we still have a couple of big questions to answer. How do you manage your workload? Also, how do you establish yourself as a medical transcriptionist? And do you need more training? Today we'll discuss all the different ways you can work—everything from being an independent contractor all the way up to consultant work. We'll talk about additional training as well. Then we'll take a peek at some of the events on the horizon, and you'll see why this is an exciting time to enter the transcription field. For our final Practice Corner, we'll look at the Health Story Project. It's an initiative to develop standards for integrating narrative reports (like the ones you've been transcribing) into the electronic medical record in a meaningful way—giving them the ability to be searched and to extrapolate data like we have never been able to do before.

Jennifer Della'Zanna

Jennifer Della'Zanna graduated from Albright College in Reading, PA with a Bachelor of Arts degree. With 15 years' experience in the health care industry, she has worked as a medical transcriptionist, receptionist, medical assistant, practice admi... Read more

Read Jennifer Della'Zanna's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

What people are saying about our courses

I have been transcribing workers' compensation medical-legal reports for years. This course was an eye opener into what I lacked, what is missing in my reports, and my level of competence. I got busy and copied mountains of pertinent information to be studied again and again at my leisure so I can upgrade my skills. I have had a secret desire to work as a transcriptionist for a hospital or the County Medical Bureau, but I am
nowhere near prepared. This course was of immense value in helping me assess my current level of competence. I plan to practice transcribing reports over and over again. Thanks so much for the templates. I cannot express enough how valuable this course was for me.

Verified Student

This course exceeded my expectations. It was everything I was looking for and more. A++ for the instructor. I completed the Medical Secretary Training ( a 9-month course) at a technical college ~ 20 years ago and wanted to see how the industry changed, brush up my skills and decide if this was a career for me. Jennifer is so pleasantly willing to present a vast of array of resources, details, nuances, considerations, and experiences. I have taken a few on-line courses and this by far was the best one.

Verified Student

This course gave me information that I did not know even though I've been a medical transcriptionist for almost 9 years. I always learned something new in each lesson and was very informative. The resources given to you for future reference are very useful as well. I enjoyed taking this refresher course and would definitely recommend it to friends and family.

Verified Student

See More Reviews

The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Medical Transcription you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

Ready to get started?

Enrol Now