Objects from the beginning - with GUIs

ABSTRACT

We describe a way to introduce objects at the beginning of the first CS course through the use of objects that have significant nontrivial behavior and interactions with other objects. We will describe four introductory laboratory projects and an outline for introductory lectures on object oriented programming that illustrate the need for private member data, constructors and accessor member functions, and prepare students for writing object oriented programs in Java with graphical user interfaces.

REFERENCES

• 1: Kim B. Bruce , Andrea Danyluk , Thomas Murtagh, A library to support a graphics-based object-first approach to CS 1, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.33 n.1, p.6-10, March 2001
• 2: Horstman, C., and Cornell, G., Core Java 1.2, SunSoft Pres, Mountain View, CA, 1999.
• 3: Michael Kölling , John Rosenberg, Guidelines for teaching object orientation with Java, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.33 n.3, p.33-36, Sept. 2001
• 4: Elliot Koffman , Ursula Wolz, A simple java package for GUI-like interactivity, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.33 n.1, p.11-15, March 2001
• 5: Kenneth Alfred Lambert , Martin Osborne, Java: Complete Course in Programming and Problem Solving, Course Technology Press, 1998
• 6: Jeff Raab , Richard Rasala , Viera K. Proulx, Pedagogical power tools for teaching Java, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.32 n.3, p.156-159, Sept. 2000
• 7: Richard Rasala , Jeff Raab , Viera K. Proulx, Java power tools: model software for teaching object-oriented design, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.33 n.1, p.297-301, March 2001
• 8: Eric Roberts, An overview of MiniJava, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.33 n.1, p.1-5, March 2001

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features
          Subjects: Classes and objects

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Graphical user interfaces (GUI)

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

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Human Factors, Languages

Keywords:
CS1, GUIs, objects