Thread: need help in my project

This is interesting and I'd like to open it up for discussion, but this is not the forum for it since it's not a technical question. I'm going to move this to the cafe (where you'll probably get more attention).

Do you think students face some difficulties in learning Java? Why?

Sure, but students face difficulties learning anything. Programming has prerequisites- math, logic, problem solving, some of which are almost impossible to teach. In any given introductory programming class, it’s impossible to determine where the class is with those prerequisites- some people might have had advanced calculus, others might barely understand algebra. Some might be able to solve a problem in an hour, others might not even understand what a question is asking- and all of this is before the computer is even turned on!

It has also been suggested that certain people simply cannot learn to program: Coding Horror: Separating Programming Sheep from Non-Programming Goats


What do you recommend to overcome this problem?

Like I said, perhaps the assumption that it can or should be overcome is invalid. But if it is to be overcome, the solution probably lies in strengthening the prerequisites- but whose job is that? It also lies in making the fundamentals more interesting. That is our job, but you can't force a student into thinking that for lops are interesting. If a brand new student doesn't think hello world is at least a little cool, then there's probably not much we can do to keep that person interested in anything else.


What kind of tools you think that would help you teaching programming?

I actually do plan on teaching programming. If I were to start today, I would make heavy use of the Processing language, for reasons explained in this post: http://www.javaprogrammingforums.com...rocessing.html



Do you think using this application will make it easier for students to learn Java? How?

If you’re talking about my suggestion, then the answer has to be yes (otherwise why would I suggest it). One of the “problems” with programming is that to do anything “cool” (like flashy visuals), you have to get through some pretty advanced topics (for Java, we’re talking Swing, Java2D, events, timing). Processing abstracts that stuff away and gives you a rendering loop. Which hello world generates more interest: one that prints “hello world” to a command line, or one that displays it in an applet?

Once the student’s interest is piqued (with the easy flashy stuff), then you can introduce the more advanced topics that might not “look” as cool by themselves, but are required for anything really spectacular.


Is it beneficial to use games in teaching Java language for adults? why?

That really depends. Games can be useful because they incorporate a lot of advanced features used in other fields, but making it overly kiddy or concentrating on the specifics of a game can be detrimental. Obviously if you’re teaching a class on JTables, most people there aren’t going to want to hear about collision detection.


If there is such software would you like to use it as a teacher?

What such software? Like I said, if I were starting my teaching career today, I’d use Processing.


Any more comments or suggestions for our application?

There have been several applications that are supposed to introduce students to programming. I’ve used a few of them, and I haven’t really liked any of them. You shouldn’t have to “trick” a student into programming by covering it up with games (Game Maker) or stories (Alice). That’s just going to cause a lot of disenchanted freshman to change their major to business when they realize that programming is HARD. Make it interesting, make it visual, but don’t cover it up.