Term 1
Introduction to Computer Programming
Week 1
Day/Date
Monday
8/18/14
Objectives
ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION & RESOURCES
Intro to Programming Concepts
First Day Stuff!
Welcome
Overview
Programming Terms:


Computer Program - a set of instructions that tells a
computer what to do. (simplified definition)

Class - defines a particular kind of object. In Alice,
classes are pre-defined as 3D Models provided in the
gallery, categorized into groups such as, Animals,
People, Buildings, and so on.

Objects - In Alice, they are the visual pieces that make
up the animation you see on screen.

www.Code.org
Tuesday
8/19
What is Alice - Alice is an environment that will
help students learn programming through the use of 3D
Animation. Alice is so named in honor of Charles Ludwidge
Dodson, an English Mathematician and logician who wrote
under the pen name Lewis Carroll. Carroll wrote Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
Opening an Alice World
Choosing Environment
Saving and Alice World
Adding Objects
Adding, positioning and sizing objects
Adding people
Object Tree
Object Parts
Bunny Movie
Begin Bunny Tutorial
Wednesday
8/20
Setting Camera Views-Alice 2.4 Review
Rename Camera Views
Original Views
Moving camera
Finishing Setup
Assignment: Alice Essentials
A short tutorial that introduces the learner to Alice by
walking through the creation of a world with a bunny. Good
Animation Terms:
Virtual World - A video game or simulation
implemented in 3D.
What is Alice - "An Educational Software that teaches
students computer programming in a 3D environment.

Intro to Alice
Parts of the Alice
Environment
Camera Views Setting initial
view(should become
a habit)
Methods to move
around the island
Methods to move
individual parts
Point of view
for a first time glimpse at what Alice can do. Concepts
introduced include scene set up and built-in methods.
Bunny Tutorial due (100 pts)
Access the Personal Server Folder
Thursday
8/21
Methods
Things your character can do
New things you want to code your character to do
Assignment: Alice Essentials
Kangaroo - Alice Basics
100 pts.
Friday
8/22
Assignment:
Shark Attack: The Island
100 pts
Remember to save final world as follows:
period#LastName_Assignment Name
Example: 3Cudak_shark
What this tutorial covers.




Camera Views - Setting initial view(should become
a habit)
Methods to move around the island
Methods to move individual parts
Point of view
Week 2:
DAY/DATE
Monday
8/25/14
Objectives
ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION & RESOURCES
PROGRAMMING & ANIMATION CONCEPTS
Assignments:
Begin Parts 1+2 of Shark Attack: The Island.
Put the basic Shark Attack: The Island parts 1+2 for the first
grade, into the drop box.
(100 pts)
Programming Terms:


Computer Program - a set of instructions that tells a
computer what to do. (simplified definition)

Class - defines a particular kind of object. In Alice,
classes are pre-defined as 3D Models provided in the
gallery, categorized into groups such as, Animals,

Intro to Alice
Parts of the Alice
Environment
Camera Views Setting initial
view(should become
a habit)
Methods to move
Tuesday
8/26
Wednesday
8/27
Continue working on Shark Attack
Then, add the enhancements to it and and turn it in again as
period#LastName_Shark2. (or Island 2)
If you are done with the first one, complete the Add-ons to
Shark Attack:


Add at least 2 more pieces of scenery. Do not allow
them to detract from the original program.
Make the coconuts fall from the tree when you
press the space bar. That will include an event.
(hint:similar to Press S for.. that you added for the
first part..)
Name the final project: period#LastName_Shark2 (or Island
2)
and put it into the dropbox. (100 pts) Due today!
Thursday
8/28
Space: A New Frontier
(100 pts)
Due Friday
After completing the instructions for Space: A New
Frontier, turn it in via the drop box. Name it
Period#LastName_Space.
Then, add the following:
1. Orient the Astronaut to the humvee. (Hint, we did this
with the shark assignment)
2. Add a Billboard.
A Billboard in Alice is a 2D image that can be used for a
variety of things. In this case, you will be adding space
scenery to be moved to the back of the scene and enlarged to
fill in the area.
Use Google Images to find a space background. Click on the
image you want to use, hold the control key and click on the
image and Save Image to the desktop.
Under File > Add Billboard > Find the image you saved
from the internet.
Use the move (arrow) under the Add Elements to move the
space to the background.
Use the sizing tool (2nd from the right on that tool bar) to
make it fit the whole area.
People, Buildings, and so on.
Objects - In Alice, they are the visual pieces that make
up the animation you see on screen.
Animation Terms:
Virtual World - A video game or simulation
implemented in 3D.
CONCEPTS:
A computer program is a sequence of instructions that
tell the computer what to do.
Learning to program is actually learning how to think
about arranging a sequence of instructions to carry out
a task.
In Alice, the animation of 3D objects takes place in a
virtual world.
An Alice object can move in six possible directions in
a virtual world. We call the direction and angle at
which an object is facing the object's orientation.
From our text book:
Learning to Program with Alice, 3rd Ed.
Dann, Cooper, Pausch


around the island
Methods to move
individual parts
Point of view
3. Add an alien object (you may use the fantasy or other
object) and have the Alien in the beginning of the animation
move around the astronaut by pressing the M. Be sure to
have the Alien say press the M key to make him move.
Keep working, don't worry if you feel like you are behind.
You will catch up...Complete this and save it, you do not
need to hand it in yet.
Video Example of Project:Right Click and save to your
desktop
Friday
8/29
Space A New Frontier due by end of the period