Objects-early tools: a demonstration

ABSTRACT

Various software tools have been proposed or developed for use in introductory programming courses. Usually, presentation of a new tool at the SIGCSE symposium occurs when a tool is first developed, leaving it to interested observers to identify success or failure of tools over their lifetime.For teachers, it can be difficult to compare available tools and judge potential application in their courses.In this session, three tools with an established track record of successful classroom use are presented: Karel J Robot [1], objectdraw [2], and BlueJ [2]. In addition to considering each tool individually, opportunities for combinations of these tools are also discussed.The focus of this session will be on concrete, hands-on advice that teachers can immediately apply in their classrooms.

REFERENCES

• 1: Bergin, J., Stehlik, M., Roberts, J., Pattis, R., Karel J Robot: A Gentle Introduction to the Art of Object-Oriented Programming in Java, Unpublished manuscript. Available on the web at: http://csis.pace.edu/~bergin/KarelJava2ed/Karel++JavaEdition.html
• 2: Kim B. Bruce , Andrea Danyluk , Thomas Murtagh, A library to support a graphics-based object-first approach to CS 1, Proceedings of the thirty-second SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education, p.6-10, February 2001, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
• 3: Kölling, M., Quig, B., Patterson, A. and Rosenberg, J., The BlueJ system and its pedagogy, Journal of Computer Science Education, Special issue on Learning and Teaching Object Technology, Vol 13, No 4, 249--268, Dec 2003.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

General Terms:
Human Factors

Keywords:
CS1, object-orientation, objects early, pedagogy, software tools