Introduction to iJava: Improving Student Success in Introductory Programming

Wed. June 23, 2010
10:30 am coffee & registration, 11 am - 5 pm workshop, including lunch.

Workshop hosted by CITI and Prof. Robbie Moll of UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, Computer Science Building
140 Governors Dr, Amherst, MA

UMass Amherst is offering a workshop by UMass Amherst Computer Science Associate Professor Robert Moll, the inventor of iJava, on Wednesday, June 23. This workshop covers the principal features of the text and associated course from the perspective of both students and instructors. Various iJava teaching tactics are discussed, and their relevancy for high school and community college classes are highlighted.

What is iJava?

The iJava online interactive text provides an introduction to problem solving and computer programming using the programming language Java. It has been the basis for most introductory programming course offerings at UMass-Amherst over the last five years.

The interactive nature of the textbook is unique: It is suitable for beginners with no previous programming experience. When you learn using iJava, you type real code at the text, and the text tells you - immediately - if your code is correct. This makes iJava a superb learning-by-doing educational tool.

iJava is more than an elementary interactive textbook. The system includes a variety of other non-book-like features, such as movies, traced examples, and running code and comes with an extensive automated homework system involving hundreds of problems, most of which involve programming. When you work these as a student, you get immediate correctness judgments. As a teacher, you set release and due dates for a homework assignment.

iJava has a track record. In a Java class using a traditional textbook in Fall 2004, only 69 out of 109 students (63%) passed the course final. In Fall 2005, the term we introduced iJava, the corresponding success rate on an equivalent final rose to 102 out of 119 (85%). In both classes only about 10% of students were computer science majors, and thus iJava has shown its effectiveness for students who are not necessarily technical in their focus.

Space is limited. Advance Registration Required by June 18

Who should attend?
Computing and technology educators (community college, college, or high school) with some programming background. Previous knowledge of Java preferred, but not required. If you are currently teaching programming to your students and want to learn about and hope to implement iJava in your class, this workshop is for you.

Cost:

Free, lunch provided; possible stipends for educators who are not on year-round contracts. Parking will be in lot 31 off Governors Dr (opposite the Computer Science Building). Parking passes will be available at the check-in table day-of. Please do not park in the Campus Garage.

Please email Hillary at rathbun@cs.umass.edu with any questions regarding this workshop.

More about iJava:
 http://ijava.cs.umass.edu/