Java Engagement for
Teacher Training:
An Experience Report
Raja Sooriamurthi,
Arijit Sengupta, Suzanne Menzel,
Katie Moor, Sid Stamm,
Katy Börner
Indiana University, Bloomington
Overview
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Why JETT
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Goals of IU JETT
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Workshop structure
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Teaching style and tips
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Where are all the women?
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Lessons Learned
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JETT 2004
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
AP Computer Science
Starting Fall 2003 in Java
Two exams: A and AB
AB is a super-set of A and deals with more
O-O design, algorithms and data structures
apcentral.collegeboard.com/repository/ap04_cd_compsci_0405__4315.pdf
apcentral.collegeboard.com
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
What is JETT?
(Java Engagement for Teacher Training)
+
Short Term Goals:
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Pedagogically oriented workshops and
resources in Java for secondary high
school computer science teachers
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Centralized online Java repository
hosted by the ACM: jett.acm.org
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
Goals of the IU JETT workshop
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Network high school and university IT people
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Broaden the perspective of IT
[ IT ≠ Programming ]
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Provide a glimpse of current research in IT
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Discuss the under-representation of women
and minorities in IT --- recruitment & retention
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Discuss the K16 education pipeline and build
mentorships
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
An Inter-disciplinary Team
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Information Systems
 Raja Sooriamurthi
 Arijit Sengupta
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Computer Science
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Suzanne Menzel
Adrian German
Katie (Moor) Siek
Sid Stamm
Library & Information
Science
 Katy Börner
Our wonderful group of
student volunteers
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
Workshop Structure
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Basic Java
Concepts of Object Orientation
Timers, threads and GUIs
Java Foundation Classes
Algorithms, Data Structures
Network Games
Faculty research
Movie: portrait of Ada
www.mith.umd.edu/flare/lovelace
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
Teaching Styles and Tips
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Metaphors and analogies
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Grab students attention
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Learn who your students are
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Understand their viewpoint and customize
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Teach around the cycle of learning styles
Learning should be fun !
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
An Intuitive Introduction to the
Concepts of Object Orientation
Programming is about modeling a world
O-O helps us build & maintain more natural models
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Object
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Over-loading
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Class
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Inheritance
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Message
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Polymorphism
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Method
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Over-riding
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Encapsulation
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Delegation
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
Research + Fun
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Java 3D
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Information visualization
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
Where are all the women?
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Annul the “computer geek stereotype”
Be aware of your voice, gestures and body
language
Put all girls in touch with female mentors
Encourage questioning and exploration for all
students
Cluster lab layouts
Recommend home computers to be placed in
centralized locations
Talk to parents and counselors to help encourage
women
Posters of positive role models: anitaborg.org
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
Lessons Learned
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Decaf and Espresso tracks
Broad & complementary topics
Tips on how to teach
Book representatives
Networking opportunities during and after the
workshop
www.cs.indiana.edu/~jett/2003
FIE 2004, Oct 21, Savannah, GA
Raja Sooriamurthi
The Story Continues …
JETT 2004
www.cs.indiana.edu/~jett
November 5 and 6
Special Guest Speaker
Optimism and Pessimism about Artificial Intelligence
How Close Are We in 2004 to Achieving
Human-level Artificial Intelligence?
Douglas Hofstadter