Project Description

Within the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University, the computing undergraduate degrees require all students to undertake programming as part of their first year of study. While each degree has a different computing focus (i.e. network computing, computer science, commercial computing), as well as a variety of teaching methods (i.e. lecture / tutorial instruction, distance education needs and a problem-based approach to learning), a set of core resources for first year programming subjects can be established, particularly as Java is now the introductory programming language for several courses.

To this end, a set of resources are being developed to support this subject area.

The resources that will have been developed include:

• A set of Screencam files that provide tutorial instruction on using the Java teaching environment Bluej.
• A set of Toolbook demonstrations that illustrate the concept of parameter passing between methods in Java.
• A set of Toolbook exercises and demonstrations that cover the concept of factorization and code re-use in relation to use of methods in Java classes.
• A glossary of terms used in object-oriented programming.

The second and third resources cover areas considered conceptually difficult, while the first and fourth resources provide supplementary support in areas not normally covered by the course.