Robotics Learning Java Class Web Pages

www.RoboticsLearning.com/java

This page is for students enrolled in the Java programming classes taught by Steve Putz and Robotics Learning. If you have questions, email info@RoboticsLearning.com or phone 408-910-1176.

I am looking to hire a student aide, age 16 or older, to help with teaching these classes. If you are interested, plese contact info@RoboticsLearning.com

(See Below for Java Resouerces)

These Classes are not yet open for enrollment, See http://www.extendedyear.deanza.edu/
Java BlueJ Programming Monday - Friday 8:30 - 9:25 AM or 10:50 - 11:45 AM June 18 to July 13, 2011 (no class July 4) Class Materials (not yet available)	Java Greenfoot Games and Simulations Monday - Friday 10:40 - 11:35 AM or 11:50 AM - 12:45 PM June 18 to July 13, 2011 (no class July 4) Class Materials (not yet available)
Class Description: Entering grades 7th-9th - Class size is limited to 16 students. Programming concepts and techniques are introduced and practiced through a series of fun programming examples. Topics include: using variables, creating a Java applet, simple graphics, defining new object classes, interactive applet with buttons, animation, creating a simple interactive game, and programming a wheeled "Finch" robot. Class sessions include time to work on the programs with help from the instructor. Some homework time will be required to complete the lessons. Students should have a USB flash drive to take their class work home. Cost includes materials and classroom use of laptop computers for each student. Students should not bring their personal laptop computers to class. See www.bluej.org and www.RoboticsLearning.com and www.finchrobot.com and the bottom of this web page for more information. This 4-week class provides 19 hours of classroom instruction. Instructor: Steve Putz. This class will be at Cupertino Middle School. To enroll, see www.extendedyear.deanza.edu	Class Description: Entering grades 7th-9th - Class size is limited to 16 students. Greenfoot provides a framework for easily programming interactive 2-D simulations and games based on a World and Actor model. Programming concepts and techniques are introduced and practiced through a series of fun programming examples such as creating physics simulations, simple interactive games, and programming a wheeled "Finch" robot. Students will use the Java programming language to define objects, variables and methods for implementing their simulations and games. Class sessions include time to work on the programs with help from the instructor. Some homework time will be required to complete the lessons. Students should have a USB flash drive to take their class work home. Cost includes materials and classroom use of laptop computers for each student. Students should not bring their personal laptop computers to class. See www.Greenfoot.org and www.RoboticsLearning.com and www.finchrobot.com and the bottom of this web page for more information. This 4-week class provides 19 hours of classroom instruction. Instructor: Steve Putz. This class will be at Cupertino Middle School. To enroll, see www.extendedyear.deanza.edu
If you are enrolled in this class, the instructor will give you a login and password at the first class, for accessing the Class Materials web page. Or email info@RoboticsLearning.com to get a login and password (include the student name and class period). IMPORTANT: Each student should bring a USB flash drive to class for keeping copies of their programs between classes, and to work on at home.	If you are enrolled in this class, the instructor will give you a login and password at the first class, for accessing the Class Materials web page. Or email info@RoboticsLearning.com to get a login and password (include the student name and class period). IMPORTANT: Each student should bring a USB flash drive to class for keeping copies of their programs between classes, and to work on at home.

BlueJ Programming (see www.BlueJ.org)

Greenfoot Programming (see www.Greenfoot.org)

Finch Robot (see www.FinchRobot.com)

Prior Class Links

(June 2011 Java BlueJ Class Notes)
(June 2011 Java Greenfoot Class Notes)
(March 2011 Java Greenfoot Class Notes)
(January 2011 Java Greenfoot Class Notes)
(January 2011 Java BlueJ Class Notes)
(September 2010 Java BlueJ Class Notes)
(June 2010 Java BlueJ Class Notes)
(June 2010 Java Greenfoot Class Notes)
(April 2009 Java for Kids Class Notes)
(February 2009 Java for Kids Class Notes)
(October 2008 Java for Kids Class Notes)
(February 2008 Java for Kids Class Notes)
(Fall 2006 Beginning Java Class Notes)
(March 2006 Intermediate Java Class Notes)

General Java Resources

For Greenfoot Java classes I will be using Greenfoot , which can be downloaded from:

www.greenfoot.org

For BlueJ Java classes, I will be using the BlueJ interactive Java environment, which can be downloaded from:

www.bluej.org

I do not require students to purchase a textbook, but the following books may be helpful for students who want to go beyond the provided lessons.

Books	Online	Comments
Introduction to Programming with Greenfoot Object-Oriented Programming in Java with Games and Simulations	CourseSmart or Safari Books Online	Some lessons in my classes are adapted from this book.
Objects First with Java A Practical Introduction using BlueJ	CourseSmart	Some exercises in my classes are adapted from this book.
Java - Objects First: An Introduction to Computer Programming using Java and BlueJ	Download PDF	I have not yet reviewed this book
Java Programming for Kids, Parents and Grandparents	Download PDF	I have looked at this book, but I have not used it in my classes.

To use BlueJ or Greenfoot, you need to have the Java SE SDK on your computer. It should not matter which version you have for the beginning Java class (but I recommend version 6). Apple computers running MacOS X or later already have a Java SDK installed. On Windows (XP, 2000, Vista, Windows 7), you should install the Software Development Kit (labeled SDK or JDK), not the runtime environment (JRE), not the Enterprise Edition. And I normally recommend not using a beta version. See:

JDK 6
JDK 5

Java Notes by Fred Swartz

Nicely organized notes on many aspects of Java programming.

The Java Tutorial

This is an excellent collection of web pages providing tutorials and reference material for leaving Java. It can be browsed online or a copy can be downloaded to your computer.
Just a few of the most useful sections include:

Java API Documentation (for JDK 6)

These web pages document the standard Java class packages for Java 6.
You can browse the Java documentation on the internet, or download a local copy onto your computer.
The original Java documentation is available from http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/

(look for the "Download this documentation" button at the top, then the "Java SE 6 Documentation" section)
After downloading the file "jdk-6-doc.zip" to your computer:

if you are using NetBeans, use the "Javadoc Manager" tool to mount this documentation for use in NetBeans (no need to unzip).
or unzip the contents to a folder on your computer and view the top level "index.html" file with your web browser.
if you are using BlueJ, use the Tools>Preferences menu to set the JDK documentation URL to the index file on your computer.

This documentation is also available in a very convenient searchable Windows Help File and HTML Help versions.

You can download these versions from http://www.allimant.org/javadoc/index.php

Some useful Java API documentation sections include:

java.lang
java.io
java.awt (includes the Graphics class)

Java Programming for Kids, Parents and Grandparents

This is a book for teaching Java to kids. I have a copy, but have not used it in teaching my classes.