Learning Tools for Java

1. Learning Tools for Java A Survey and Tutorial of Four Tools Adam Murray University of Ottawa

2. Introduction • Programming • Dr Java • BlueJ • Web-based • Blackboard • WebCT • No Evaluation Toolkit, sorry

3. An aside: Java as an introductory language • Gartner Group, 1997 • Taught in 78% of schools (C++ primary 95%) • Mandatory in 50% (C++ 82%) • Gartner Group, 2000 • Taught in 87% of schools (C++ no longer primary, 87%) • Mandatory in 56% (C++ 65%) • 13% replaced Pascal with Java, 21% replaced C++ with Java

4. Dr Java (built using Dr Java) • Two Panes (third for file mgt): • Interactions Pane • Immediately see results of expressions & statement • Makes use of REPL • Alternate entry points (testing simpler, no main(), no debugger to learn) • Interactively create GUI • Definitions Pane (code) • Brace matching, syntax highlighting, automatic indenting, pretty printing • Compiler integration Diagnosis: Needs work, better support, more tuning

5. BlueJ • Premise: Environments for OO are not OO environments; they do not reflect the paradigm • BlueJ is object-oriented • Designed for teaching • Downsides: • Student must learn both java and protocols for BlueJ • Does not scale to large systems (at all) • Students must eventually move to Java text after all

6. BlueJ supports • graphical class structure display • graphical and textual editing • built-in editor, compiler, virtual machine, debugger, etc. • easy-to-use interface • ideal for beginners (but unsuitable for pros) • interactive object creation • interactive object calls • interactive application development and testing

7. Blackboard • Public company building e-Education products • Blackboard Learning System • Blackboard Community Portal System • Blackboard Transaction System

8. Blackboard Learning System • Measuring and improving student performance • Increasing instructor productivity • Enabling “Web-enhanced” classroom-based teaching and learning • Delivering distance learning • Leveraging technology to enhance institutional competitiveness, applicant selectivity and retention • Integrates course and learning management capabilities with an organization’s student information, security, and authentication protocols • Managing digital assets and content

9. System Utilities • Content Management and Content Sharing • Assessment Management • Gradebook • Collaboration and Communication • Assignment and Portfolio Management

10. Product Architecture

12. Assessment Manager Easier test generation and modification, more options and fewer clicks

13. Virtual Classroom

14. Grade Book A spreadsheet, nothing more, nothing less

15. WebCT • E-Learning systems for higher education • Similar to Blackboard, more widely received • Course Management • Academic Enterprise Systems • Services / Seminars

16. Course Management System • WebCourse Builder and Syllabus Tool • Communication and Collaboration Tools • Assessment Tools • Selective Content Release • Assignment Submission / Grade Entry • Learning Gateway (Portal to many courses) • Individualized Look (institution and course branding)

17. Course Builder

18. Designer Map (Content Manager)

19. Course Homepage

20. Chat

21. Assignments

22. Quizzes

23. Conclusions

24. References Allen, E., Cartwright, R., and Stoler, B. Dr Java: A lightweight pedagogic environment for Java,Proceedings of the 33rd SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, Cincinnati, Kentucky, 2002. Kölling, M. and Rosenberg, J., BlueJ - The Hitch-Hikers Guide to Object Orientation, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute for Production Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Technical Report 2002, No 2, ISSN No. 1601-4219. (PDF)