[Bluej-discuss] Programming as random process ...

[Gordon Royle]

On 20/04/2006, at 9:55 AM, Aryeh Friedman wrote:

>
> In any complex blackbox system (in all HL langs this true to an  
> extend) this is always true to some extent.  One way to conteract  
> (and no offense ment to the text) is start with very simple  
> programs like hello, world from the *COMMAND LINE* not a IDE then  
> introduce the IDE for more advanced stuff.

???? But that's exactly what I DON'T want to do !!

I am trying to teach them to model objects NOT to write procedural  
programs in an OO language.

I want to avoid the command line at all costs,  because it means  
using "public static void main(String[] args)" which contains

- access modifiers
- return types, in particular the
- the main method and its special role
- class methods and static
- arrays (and arrays of objects)

These five concepts DO all need to be covered, but doing so on day 1  
is a sure way to convince them that programming is some sort of  
arcane magic  where you just have to stumble on the magic incantation  
with no hope of understanding it.

With BlueJ they do have to learn the IDE, but it is very simple, and  
the key point is that they can spend all their time MODELLING OBJECTS  
and interacting with them, rather than writin

So everything that they do is based on building classes, creating  
objects, getting them to do simple things, then having objects create  
other objects and communicate with them and so on... There is NEVER a  
point at which they have to take anything on a "just put your code  
here and I'll explain why all this other stuff is here later" basis,  
as every construct and concept is explained before it is used.


I don't use the Objects First book myself as my course predates the  
book and I already have a lot of alternative material to use... but  
what you are suggesting is "Procedures First" which is essentially  
the opposite of that philosophy....

Cheers

Gordon