simpleIO: A Java package for Novice Interactive and Graphics Programming
Ursula Wolz
Department of Computer Science
The College of New Jersey, Box 7718
Ewing, New Jersey, 08628-0718, USA
+01 609 771 2268
wolz@tcnj.edu
Elliot Koffman
Computer and Information Science Department
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
+01 215 204 1913
koffman@cis.temp.edu
 

Submission: PAPER

Conference Topics: Technology for Teaching Programming, Impact of technology on the curriculum, Instructional technology

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses the problem of how to incorporate user interactivity and graphics into a first course in computer science. Problems and alternative solutions are discussed. A Java package called simpleIO that we developed is presented. It allows novice programmers to build simple GUI -based programs while maintaining good design principles. The package includes methods for requesting data from the user including integers, reals, string and Booleans. It also supports simple menus, graphics displays and text file handling.

 THE PAPER