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The JavaPlease! workbook is a 166-page softcover
book that is designed to help any learner new to computer programming
and Java rapidly acquire the skills to build simple to moderately
complex programs in this powerful and modern language. The workbook is
economically priced and includes a CD/ROM
that provides the easiest possible way to install the Sun
Microsystems Java compiler on your own PC.
The 30 fully illustrated, annotated, and explained programs in the
workbook are all included on the CD/ROM, as well as exercises that can
be done self-paced or as classroom or homework assignments. Complete
instructions and scripts are included to situate the included Java
compiler on your PC, or to use the execution script via a floppy
diskette or modern flash-RAM drive while accessing a lab computer
already loaded with Java. In fact, the CD/ROM is auto-installing,
for both the Sun compiler supplied as a convenience and the
JavaPlease! environment.
The JavaPlease! workbook is
intentionally designed to "coexist" with standard Java texts.
Choosing to use the workbook does not involve displacing any other text;
this is why the printing processes used, the packaging, and the design
of the workbook are all coordinated to keep the price to the student as
low as possible. As an economical workbook with highly focused program
example support, it provides a level of infrastructure to the conduct of
a course often lacking in full, higher-overhead texts that must cover a
wide range of topics. The four sections of the workbook cover:
A. The basics: variables, arithmetic, loops, if, and the generation
and use of random numbers
B. Arrays, cast, swap, sort, and the use of math functions
C. File processing, including ASCII file content, and command line
arguments, switch, and search logic
D. Procedures, methods, recursion, and keyboard entry using native Java
methods The approach taken in the workbook is to teach basic
computer programming constructs and the elements of Java that
implement them. The progression helps learners build a firm foundation
with essential elements so that they have a basis for subsequently
learning about and implementing object orientation and more advanced
Java interfaces. Experience with the JavaPlease! workbook indicates that
students eager to learn about computer programming but with only
web-exploratory experience can use the workbook and CD/ROM to quickly
install Java on their own, relieving instructors of the need to spend valuable class
time on rudiments of the installation process. Instructors report that
students are much better able to focus on language elements with this
unique approach. The topic progression matches that of typical
college level introductory or advanced placement secondary school
curriculum; for example, it covers the first 80% of the content
prescribed for DePaul University's initial CSC-211 Introduction to Java
Programming course. As a means of providing
infrastructure for classroom work, the workbook provides 32 homework
programming problems, arranged as eight problems of graduated difficulty
for each of the four sections. Would you like to see a review copy of
the workbook? some samples pages?
Just click on the box below to download the table of contents, index,
and several sample pages as a .pdf. (The full workbook is supplied only
in paper form; the .pdf sample pages are just that - samples!)
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