The 1st programming assignment could be called Initial Maker software.
It is a simple VB program that takes a name as its input and outputs the
initials for the given name:

  INPUT           OUTPUT (after clicking cmdMakeInitials command button)
  -----           ------
  John           
  Vincent          JVA
  Atanasoff
                                                   -----------
The output goes into a Label control.  It is named lblInitials.
                                                   -----------
The input was typed into 3 different TextBoxes.

 1.  txtFirstName is the TEXTBOX where the user types in their first name.
 2.  txtMiddleName is another TEXTBOX control.
 3.  txtLastName is the TEXTBOX for their last name.

 4.  lblInitials is the LABEL for displaying the output or results.

 5.  cmdMakeInitials is the COMMAND BUTTON that the user clicks when they
     ---------------                              want to see the results.  

 6.  cmdMakeInitials_Click() is the name of the EVENT that transforms the
     input data 
                 John
                 Vincent
                 Atanasoff    into the output results  ----->  JVA

 The classic program follows a logic of 

     1. INPUT - get the input data.
     2. PROCESS - process the input to obtain the desired answers or 
                                                             results. 
     3. OUTPUT - display or print out the results.

 In the Visual Basic program you provide 3 textbox controls,

   txtFirstName    Sally           <---- INPUT
   txtMiddleName   NormaRae        <---- INPUT 
   txtLastName     Field           <---- for the user to type in their
                                         input data, some person's name,

   and you write the code or statements for   <------ PROCESS -- PROCESS
                                                     
   the Private Sub cmdMakeInitials_Click() event procedure, which 
   PROCESSes that 
                 input data Sally NormaRae Field to extract the 1st letter
                                                 of each string
                                                 of characters, and

                 then concatenate the S and N and F, 

   finally placing the exciting result           <------ OUTPUT
                   into the Label lblInitials.           OUTPUT
                                  -----------
                                  OUTPUT 
                              
   INPUT                  I                     IPO
   PROCESS                P  
   OUTPUT                 O                     I P O

   The first programming assignment will not be due until one week from
Friday, It is due on on Friday, September 9th.  Wednesday's class 
this week and Wednesday's class next week (8/31 and 9/7) should make
everything clear for this first assignment.  Friday 9/2 class will
also be helpful in giving you the experience for how to get screen
snapshots of running programs.  The 810:030 class is a BEGINNING 
programming class and requires not previous experience or computer background.

   I will demonstrate some additional features in class for this
program that involve the KeyPress() event for the Textbox controls,
so that the user can press the Enter (or Return) key and have the
Focus (where the Cursor is at or what part of the Application Initial
Maker user interfact (GUI = Graphical User Interface) is active at
the time.  The .SetFocus method will be used to change the Focus from
txtFirst to txtMiddle when the user presses the Enter key, for example.