PIIT Computer Science Summer Camp - Alice July 9, 2012 Brenda Parker Computer Science Department MTSU

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop2 Welcome MTSU Computer Science Department Computer Lab – KOM 267 Alice Camp

10/3/2015 Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop3 Introduction Introduce yourself to your neighbor Prepare to introduce your neighbor to the class –Name –School –Interesting fact!

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop4 Rules Feel free to take a break when needed Restrooms are out the door to your right in the main hallway Feel free to ask questions No talking during presentations

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop5 Purpose of Workshop Learn some of the fundamental concepts involved in programming in a “fun” way Learn to use Alice to create animations, games and videos.

Sample Student Projects evilrobotloss.avi FroggerProject.avi

TRY AN ALICE GAME! Start Alice (Click on the Alice 2.2 icon on the desktop) Choose EXAMPLES Double click on flightSimulator Click PLAY Close ALICE when finished!

CREATING GAMES and Videos You have a lot to learn to create good games and videos in Alice Each day you will learn Alice concepts Try to use knowledge learned each day to create a “great” final project!

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop9 Workshop Agenda Short explanations on Alice will be given Practice sessions will be interspersed during each day Short questions or game after each practice session (Prizes on last day of workshop to winners on best scores!) Participants will be asked to demonstrate their creations

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop10 Part I – Alice Basics Alice Workshop What is Alice? Why use Alice? Alice Basics – The Alice Environment Example Worlds Alice Texts

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop11 What is Alice? Software –Free –Educational programming language –Named after Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland –offered by Carnegie Mellon University –Download at

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop12 What is Alice? Software –uses a 3D programming environment –makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web. –designed to be a first exposure to programming. –creates a virtual world with objects (people, animals, vehicles, etc) and animate the objects

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop13 What is Alice? Software –Allows the creation of passive and interactive animations Passive animations (watch the resulting video) Interactive animation (user participates in the animation – game)

What is computer programming? Computer program – step-by-step set of instructions telling a computer how to perform a specific task. Computer language – a language a programmer may use to create a computer program: C, C++, Java, BASIC, etc 10/3/201514Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

What is computer programming? Programmers must learn the needed programming language Programming in Alice is easy –All instructions are on tiles –Use drag and drop instructions to create a program Learning Alice makes it easy to learn other programming languages! 10/3/201515Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

Terms Object – anything that can be manipulated by a computer program. –Dog –Cat Instance of an object –Oscar – is an instance of a dog –Spot – is an instance of a dog Method – program that manipulates an object –Oscar.hop() –Spot.bark() 10/3/201516Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

Terms Properties – values that describe an object –Example: Oscar’s properties may be: Black 30 pounds Hyper-active 10/3/201517Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

Terms A Function is - method that computes and returns a value Example: Suppose that we have 2 penguins in our world (Sam and Joe). We can use a function to calculate the distance between Sam and Joe! 10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop18

Questions 1.What is a program? 2.Who creates programs? 3.Name a programming language. 4.What is an “object”? 5.What is a “method”? 6.What is a “function”? 7.Dog is an object and Oscar is an _________ of a dog object. 10/3/201519Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

How do we create programs in Alice? 1.Choose a world 2.Place objects in our world 3.Choose methods for our objects 10/3/201520Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop21 Alice Basics Environment How to Create a Passive Animation How to Create an Interactive Animation

Alice Environment When programming, users are required to use an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) An IDE is a program that helps users create computer programs. We will be using the Alice IDE 10/3/201522Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop23 Object Tree Details Area Editor Area Events Area

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop24 Environment Object Tree Window Lists the predefined objects in the world –Camera –Light –Ground Lists objects placed by the user –Penguin –Snowman

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop25 Environment Details Area Window Shows information about selected object in the Object Tree Properties –Tell color, size, etc Methods –Each method does something (shows what the object can do) –Sam.flapWings Functions –Each function computes and returns something Penguin’s width is 18.

Alice Methods In Alice, there are two kinds of methods: –Primitive – basic behaviors for objects (provided by the Alice IDE) –User-defined methods – methods that the programmer creates We will work with Primitive Methods first! 10/3/201526Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop27 Practice I 1.Place your flash drive into your computer. 2.Create a folder on your flash drive called YourLastNameAliceFiles 3.Open Alice Close the Welcome Window We will now set preferences so that all pictures and videos will be saved on your flash drive.

How to Set Preferences 5. Choose Edit  Preferences 6. Choose General  Browse  E:/yourLastNameAliceFil es  Set Directory 7. Choose ScreenGrab  Browse  E:/yourLastNameAliceFiles  Set Directory 8. Set the base filename to: YourLastName 9. Click OK 10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop28

Practice I 10. Click on an object in the Object Tree 11. Examine the Properties, Methods and Functions associated with the selected object 10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop29

Practice Test I 1. C D A B 10/3/201530Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

Practice Test I 2. What is the purpose of the “methods” tab? 3. What is the difference between “methods” and “functions”? 4. Name a property of the ground object. 5. Name a method listed for the camera object. 6. Name a function listed for the light object. 7. How do we select an object? 8. In the above picture, which object is selected? 10/3/201531Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop32 Alice Basics How to Create Passive Animations 4 Step Process to create an animation –STEP 1: Choose a world –STEP 2: Choose objects for your world –STEP 3: Choose activities (methods) for your objects –STEP 4: Play your animation

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop33 STEP 1 Choose your world environment 1.Click File  New World 2.Click Templates 3.Click desired World 4.Click OPEN

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop34 STEP 2 Choose Objects for your world 1.Click “Add Objects”

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop35 STEP 2 Choose Objects for your world 2.Choose “Local Gallery” ST

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop36 STEP 2 Choose Objects for your world 3. Choose desired4. Choose desired gallery object

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop37 STEP 2 Choose Objects for your world 5. Click “Add instance to World”

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop38 STEP 2 Choose Objects for your world 6. Name objects if desired! Right click on object in the object tree and choose rename

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop39 Step 2 Choose Objects for your world 7. Position objects in your world -Use “Click and Drag” -Use sub-circuit buttons”

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop40 Step 2 Add Objects to your World 8. Click when all objects have been added and positioned.

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop41 Practice II 1.Click File  New World 2.Choose Templates 3.Choose World (Double click on desired world) 4.Add Objects- Add at least 2 animals + 2 Nature 5.Position Objects 6.Rename objects (right click on object in Object Tree and choose rename) 7.Click DONE 8.Save your world in your folder on your flash drive and call it day1.a2w (File  Save World)

Practice II Test 1.What is the first step in creating an animation in Alice? 2.Name three types of worlds users may choose from when creating an animation. 3. What does “passive” animation mean? 4. Explain how to rename an object. 5. What do the following mouse controls buttons do? 6. What button should be pushed when all objects have been added and positioned? 7. How can you change the color of an object in your world? 10/3/201542Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop43 Step 3 Choose activities (methods) for your objects 1.Click on desired object in the Object Tree. 2.Choose desired method from the list of Methods. 3.Drag the desired method to the Editor Window.

Choosing Activities for Objects Note that all objects have sub-parts. To see the sub-parts, click on + in the Object Tree. 10/3/201544Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop45 Step 3 Choose activities (methods) for your objects 1.Click on desired object in the Object Tree.

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop46 Step 3 Choose activities (methods) for your objects 2. Click METHODS and choose desired method from the Method List for that object.

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop47 Step 3 Choose activities (methods) for your objects 3. Drag the desired method to the Editor Window.

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop48 Step 4 Play Animation Example Animations lakeSkater.a2w Snow_man_story.a2w

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop49 Practice III 1.Click on one object 2.Click and drag 2 methods for that object to the Editor Window 3.Click on another object 4.Click and drag 2 methods for that object to the Editor Window 5.Play your video! 6.Save your world – (day1.a2w)!

Practice III Test 1.When creating activities for the objects in your world, you must first ___________________________. 2. Which tab in the Details Area should be chosen when choosing activities for the objects in your world? 3. When choosing activities for your objects, you should drag the desired _____ from the ______________ to the ___________ 4. What button should be selected to actually see your animation? 5. How many methods can be placed in the Editor Window? 10/3/201550Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop51 FYI It is easy to create a picture from your Alice world. How? 1.Make sure Alice knows where to save your picture (We set preferences to take care of this!) 2.Click Play 3.Click Pause 4.Click Take Picture

Practice IV 1.Play your video and take a picture at the end of your video! 2.Choose one of the following: 1.Page AL 53 – Japanese Fan Dancer 2.Page AL 54 – A Penguin Demonstration 3.Page AL 56 – American Chicken Famers Association 10/3/201552Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

For your information 1.How can we remove undesired objects and methods? ----Drag object/method to the “trash can” 10/3/201553Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

For your information 2. How do we use the Camera Control Arrows? ----VERY CAREFULLY! DO NOT USE! 10/3/201554Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop55 Part II- Control Structures Alice Camp Do in order Do together Loop Decision Structure

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop56 Control Structures Do in order –Instructions placed inside this structure will be executed in the order that they appear –Example:

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop57 Control Structures Do in order –Advantage Easy to learn about sequential logic Easy to delete a group of statements

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop58 Control Structures Do together –Allows multiple actions to occur at the same time –Provides an interesting effect! –Example: 4 penguins form a chorus line!

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop59 Control Structures Loop –Easy way to perform same instructions multiple times

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop60 Control Structures If Else

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop61 Example chorusline.a2w chorusline2.a2w chorusline.a2w chorusline2.a2w

Practice V 1.Open your day1.a2w file (if it is not already open) 2.Add two control structures to your Alice world. You can use a Loop or a Do together or a Do in Order. 3.Save your video 4.Play your video 5.Save a picture. 10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop62

Practice VI Choose from 1 of the following: 1.Page AL 120 – Three Penguin Dance 2.Page AL 27 – Create a New Ice Skater World 3.Create your own Alice world which tells a story AND contains Control Structures 10/3/201563Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

Practice IV Test 1. How do you change the default settings in Alice? 2. What is the purpose of “Screen Grab”? 3. Why would you want to change the default setting in Alice? 4. Name two advantages for using the “Do in order” control structure. 5. What is the purpose of the “Do together” structure? 6. What is a “Loop”? 7. Where on the Alice screen are the control structures located? 8. Name 4 control structures found in Alice. 9. How do you save a picture of your world in Alice? 10. When instructed to do so, where does Alice save a picture of your world? 11. When a world picture is saved, what file name is the picture given? 10/3/201564Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop

How to Print your Program To print your program, you will need to export your program to a web page. Go to AL48 in your Alice text and following the instructions listed. Make sure that your code is exported to your folder on your flash drive

CONTEST Create a new world of your choosing, add and position objects in your new world. We will vote on the most creative and interesting WORLD and story!

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop67 References –Helpful information on Teaching with Alice –Download Alice –Archive of Alice newsletters, grants, useful information

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop68 Part IV References –Workshop materials & tutorials -festival/ -festival/ –Alice Contest in UAB

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop69 Part IV References and.ac.uk/~history/BiogIndex.htmlhttp://www-groups.dcs.st- and.ac.uk/~history/BiogIndex.html –Index of famous Mathematicians elling/index.htmlhttp:// elling/index.html –Download StoryTelling Alice (appeals to middle school students)

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop70 Part IV References Animations.htmlhttp:// Animations.html –Screen shots of student Alice worlds mp3http:// mp3 –Interview on NPR radio regarding UAB’s K-12 outreach efforts in Alabama (5 minute discussion on CS education, job market, Alice)

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop71 Part IV References Randy Pausch – Carnegie Mellon professor gives The Last Lecture with comments regarding Alice _MqicxSohttp:// _MqicxSo

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop72 Class Demonstrations Volunteers????

10/3/2015Brenda Parker - Alice Workshop73 GREAT JOB! Thank you for your attention today!