This six-chapter supplementary text uses Alice, a three-dimensional virtual reality authoring system, to make programming easy and fun for the novice programmer. Alice was developed to help teach introductory programming techniques in a less syntax-intensive environment, and addresses some of the barriers that currently prevent many users from successfully learning to program. By introducing core programming topics such as objects, methods, and variables within the context of the Alice environment, users will be motivated to continue their studies in programming.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
Opened the Door!, July 9, 2008
By
M. CaeliusI am an attorney/geek that has toyed on and off with various programming languages for a number of years. However, there were always certain concepts that eluded me. Prof Adams book, combined with the free software generously provided by Carnegie Mellon (just google Alice and Programming to download), really "opened the window" for me!
The combination of copying and pasting code (thus eliminating typo errors)and then "seeing" the results of ones efforts via an animated graphic, is a really good idea! The overarching metaphor is that object oriented programming is similar to producing a modern movie, you've got to work through the book to really get it, but imho it works! And usually drives home the all important underlying programming concept/s. It keeps one engaged! The graphics (though apparently designed for middle school students work well), and are not overly "cheesey" when viewed by adult eyes (if you have a bit of imagination (-:
Prof Adams prose is relaxed, and fun (which helps when learning). The book is very well organized beginning with object oriented program design, moving through functions, methods, properties, etc, and ending with an appendix chapter on Recursion. Copyright is 2007, so this book is very relevant.
There are other books out there written to be used with this program, but I'm glad I found this one, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in really "getting" the all important elementary concepts of OOP (object oriented programming).
