![]() Ĭhapter 2 The first program: Little Crab 16Ĭhapter 3 Improving the Crab–more sophisticated programming 27Ĥ.12 Summary of programming techniques 56 The Higher Education Academy elected Michael as a National Teaching Fellow in 2008. Michael is one of the developers of BlueJ, an educational programming environment, and more recently, the Greenfoot platform. He has published numerous papers on object-orientation and computing education topics and is co-author of a Java textbook ( Objects First with Java, Pearson Education, 2008.(ISBN 0-13-606086-2). Michael’s research interests are in the areas of object-oriented systems, programming languages, software tools, computing education and HCI. He holds a PhD in computer science from Sydney University, and has worked in Australia, Denmark and the UK. ![]() Michael Kölling is a professor at the Computing Laboratory, University of Kent, in Canterbury, UK. The projects discussed in this book are easy enough that they can be managed by high school students, but they are also open and extendable enough that even seasoned programmers would find them interesting and challenging. This makes the book easily readable, and logical to follow. The sequence of instruction is carefully constructed based on pedagogical principles, not driven by a list of language features. Many exercises are integrated into the text, reinforcing concepts covered in each chapter and encouraging students to become actively involved in their learning through continuous experimenting, critical thinking, and hands-on practice. The book explains only as much as is necessary to solve the task at hand and concepts are revisited later in other contexts, gradually deepening the student’s understanding. First, students are presented with a problem to solve, and then they look at language constructs and strategies that will help them solve the problem. This book starts with less theory, and more practical activity than most programming books.Ĭhapters and exercises are structured along real, hands-on development tasks. Students enjoy working on their projects, which makes learning, and teaching, easier.Ī spiral approach with a focus on hands-on learning Kölling immediately engages students, even those with no prior interest in programming, presenting projects in the form of games (“Little Crab”, “Asteroids”, “Marbles”), simulations (ants, planets), and even music (“Piano”). All concepts learned can be directly transferred to any other programming environments students may use when they progress to more advances levels. The book teaches standard Java, not an artificial educational language. While it is possible to create simple games quickly and easily in Greenfoot, it is equally possible to build highly sophisticated simulations of complex systems, possibly using artificial intelligence algorithms, agent technology, multi-agent networking technology, database connectivity, and more. Greenfoot-an award-winning educational programming environment that uses simulations and games to teach programming skills-is closely integrated into the text, with numerous screenshots and tips, making the book ideal for both instructor-led and independent learning. No other author uses Greenfoot to teach programming in the context of a comprehensive textbook.
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