1. Using Greenfoot and a Moon Scenario to Teach Java Programming in CS1 Randy J. Gallant Randy J. Gallant& Dr. Qusay Mahmoud ACMSE 2008

2. Outline Problems Problems Solutions Solutions Greenfoot Greenfoot Going to the Moon Project Going to the Moon Project Demo Demo Testing, Acceptance & Development Testing, Acceptance & Development Project Information Project Information Questions Questions

3. Problems with Learning Programming Learning programming is boring at first. Learning programming is boring at first. Hard to keep students attention. Hard to keep students attention. Hours of endless coding before any displayable results. Hours of endless coding before any displayable results.

4. Solutions Make the programming environment more user friendly and entertaining. Make the programming environment more user friendly and entertaining. Cater to the students enjoyment of electronic games to keep their attention. Cater to the students enjoyment of electronic games to keep their attention. Use graphics to show immediate visual results of a working program. Use graphics to show immediate visual results of a working program.

5. Introducing Greenfoot Grid style world Grid style world Graphics Graphics Movement Movement Sounds Sounds Open source Java Open source Java

6. Greenfoot Editor

7. Going to the Moon 10 Labs 10 Labs Used to learn the basic Java programming and Greenfoot skills. Used to learn the basic Java programming and Greenfoot skills. Final Capstone Project Final Capstone Project Used to test the acquired programming skills of the students. Used to test the acquired programming skills of the students.

8. Topics of the10 Labs Lab 1 Exploring Greenfoot Lab 1 Exploring Greenfoot Lab 2 Working with Existing Scenarios Lab 2 Working with Existing Scenarios Lab 3 Basic Space Travel Lab 3 Basic Space Travel Lab 4 Add and Remove Objects Lab 4 Add and Remove Objects Lab 5 Grid Positioning & Fuel Lab 5 Grid Positioning & Fuel Lab 6 Trip to the Moon Lab 6 Trip to the Moon Lab 7 The Return Trip back to Earth Lab 7 The Return Trip back to Earth Lab 8 Creating Object Actors / Graphics Lab 8 Creating Object Actors / Graphics Lab 9 Sounds and Advanced Graphics Lab 9 Sounds and Advanced Graphics Lab 10 Keyboard Input Lab 10 Keyboard Input

9. Project Demo Demo Lab 6 Demo Lab 6 Lab 6 Instructions Lab 6 Instructions Demo Final Capstone Project Demo Final Capstone Project Correct code Correct code Incorrect code Incorrect code

10. Testing, Acceptance & Development In current discussions with faculty at Humber to try using this project in coming semesters. In current discussions with faculty at Humber to try using this project in coming semesters. This project will be used by Dr. Mahmoud to teach Java to senior year high school students in a special project at the University of Guelph in April – June 2008. This project will be used by Dr. Mahmoud to teach Java to senior year high school students in a special project at the University of Guelph in April – June 2008. I will be using this project to teach an introductory to Java programming course in September 2008 at Humber College. I will be using this project to teach an introductory to Java programming course in September 2008 at Humber College. “Going to the Moon” was demonstrated at ACM SIGCSE conference in Portland, on Greenfoot day in March 2008. “Going to the Moon” was demonstrated at ACM SIGCSE conference in Portland, on Greenfoot day in March 2008.

11. Project Information Website for the Going to the Moon Project Website for the Going to the Moon Project http://cmer.cis.uoguelph.ca/gotomoon/ Website contains: Website contains: General & Contact Information General & Contact Information All 10 Lab Instructions All 10 Lab Instructions All 10 Unfinished Lab Scenario Codes All 10 Unfinished Lab Scenario Codes Capstone Project Instructions Capstone Project Instructions Unfinished Capstone Project Scenario Code Unfinished Capstone Project Scenario Code Finished Scenarios available for Instructors by request only! Finished Scenarios available for Instructors by request only!

12. Thank You. Any questions? http://cmer.cis.uoguelph.ca/gotomoon/ Email: randy.gallant@humber.ca