Mta 98-361

M I C R O S O F T T E C H N O L O G Y A S S O C I AT E

Student Study Guide
EXAM 98-361

Software Development Fundamentals

Preparing for MTA Certification for Cert ca n Certification
MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE (MTA TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE (MTA) ECHNOLOGY C (MTA A) STUDENT STUDY GUIDE FOR DEVELOPERS UDY F DEVELOPERS

98-361

Software Development Fundamentals

Authors
Tim McMichael(Software Development and Windows Development). Tim has been a high school computer science teacher for the past 11 years. He currently teaches Advanced Placement Computer Science, .NET programming, and computer game programming at Raymond S. Kellis High School in Glendale, Arizona. He also serves as Curriculum Coordinator for IT classes within the Peoria Unified School District. Prior toteaching, Tim worked for several years as a database application developer. Tim earned his B.A. from Colorado State University and his M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Arizona State University. In his free time he enjoys creating games with XNA Game Studio and spending time with his young daughter. Tim is the author of the Windows Development Exam Review Kit in the MTA Exam Review Kit series. PatriciaPhillips (Lead Author and Project Manager). Patricia taught computer science for 20 years in Janesville, Wisconsin. She served on Microsoft’s National K-12 Faculty Advisory Board and edited the Microsoft MainFunction website for technology teachers for two years. For the past five years she has worked with Microsoft in a variety of roles related to K-12 curriculum development and pilot programsincluding Expression Studio web design and XNA game development. In her role as an author and editor, Patricia wrote several articles and a student workbook on topics including computer science, web design, and computational thinking. She is currently the editor of the Computer Science Teachers Association newsletter, the Voice.

This content is only for use by or provision to students for theirpersonal use. Some examples depicted herein are provided for illustration only and are fictitious. No real association or connection is intended or should be inferred. Microsoft and other trademarks listed at http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/Trademarks/EN-US .aspx are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other marks are property of their respective owners.© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This content is provided “as-is” and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v Career Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Exploring Job Roles . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii Value of Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x 98-361
CHAPTER 1

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FUNDAMENTALS

Understanding Core Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Understand computer storage and data types . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 5 Understand computer decision structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Identify the appropriate method for handling repetition . . . . . . . . . . 9 Understand error handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

CHAPTER 2

Understanding Object Oriented Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4Understand the fundamentals of classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Understand inheritance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Understand polymorphism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Understand encapsulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

CHAPTER 3...