Added: Jul 7, 2008
From: googletechtalks
Duration: 56:31
Google Tech TalksMarch, 7 2008ABSTRACTLearning to code has become both more important and more complicatedin the last decade. We need to make it attractive and easy again.Most western countries currently experience a shortage of skilledcomputing professionals in the employment market. We have seen asimilar problem in the 1990s, but this time the situation isdifferent: While the problem in the 90s was university capacity (wejust couldn't educate enough people quickly enough), this time aroundit is enrolment: Universities have the capacity, but not enoughstudents sign up to study technical, computing related subjects, suchas computer science or software engineering.The real problem lies before university: at school age, studentsdecide against computing as a subject, because it is perceived asgeeky, tedious, intellectually not challenging, and most of allboring. At the same time, programming in schools is on a sharp decline.We need to counter this trend by bringing programming back intoschools, and make it an engaging, challenging, relevant and enjoyableactivity. To be successful, the public sector, academia and businessshould work together to make this happen.At the University of Kent, we have developed two successfuldevelopment environments, named BlueJ and Greenfoot, and educationalmaterial to address these challenges. In this presentation, we willdiscuss both, with the main focus on Greenfoot, a system for beginnersto learn Java programming through development of interactive graphicalapplications.Greenfoot and its associated materials can be used to teachprogramming in schools, computer clubs, or to your own children. Kidsdevelop computer games, and -- almost as an aside -- learn object-oriented programming in Java.In this talk, I will present the software, strategies for learning ofprogramming, and the benefits and drawback of Java as a first language.Speaker: Michael Kölling, Computing Laboratory, University Michael Kölling is the lead designer of the BlueJ and Greenfoot programming environments. Both environments are designed for beginners to learn the basics of Java, and are widely used by schools and universities all over the world. Michael is also the founder of the Sun Center of Excellence in Object-Oriented Education at the University of Kent. He works as a Senior Lecturer in the Computing Laboratory at the University of Kent, where he teaches Java to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is co-author of a successful Java textbook, "Objects First With Java."
Channel: People
Tags: education engedu google googletechtalks talk talks techtalk techtalks
Rating: 4.32 (25 ratings) Views: 8833' favoriteCount='60 Comments: 11
UnowMe00 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Convenience Rules! This is perfect for explorative development approaches. Greenfoot is great.
lordmetroid Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - I am not so sure this is a good approach.
WindyPower Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - It does look like a good approach, as the visual part, which comes instantly, does catch the attention of students.
gen0syde Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Not bad, very good approach.
atifshaikh4514 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - I like the Alice Programming Project a lot better, although I have not fully tested out any of them, somehow that one is more appealing as a teaching guide.
scottishlowoflow Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - *cough* computers should be kept as far away from schools as possible they only go on the internet and play games. having taken computing in 2008 its all Ctrl + F means you can find words in a document, the computers break a lot and get thrashed about computers do NOT belong in schools
Jae132 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - its true, but we're living in a world that's changing. a school that doesnt use computers is now considered 'outdated'
trampyfastrecordings Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - i learnt on the spectrum and gained more intrest in graphic coding on the c64,the magic happened for me when i was 8 as i realised x y can be t x or z c etc and procedures was just tools or actions to use with it,from that point anything i could think of i could put to the screen as i was using my own structure and thought,rather then memorising a standard by some other guy.is like painting you dont have to copy van goth to create a sun flower theres many other ways.though jobs require standards
senay01 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - I liked it. It's possible to integrate this project into IT-classes at secondary education. It is very instructive and attractive. Great!
vikamonkins Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - bulshit
UnowMe00 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Convenience Rules! This is perfect for explorative development approaches. Greenfoot is great.