CSC 216/s08/prevent error/page2

2008-04-22T00:39:47Z

Eslifka: /* Source Code */

CSC 216/s08/prevent error/page2

2008-04-22T00:39:25Z

Eslifka: /* Source Code */

==Source Code==
This is a full implementation of Merge Sort in Java. Of the many ways available, this one uses arrays.

<tt>package mergeSort;

<blue>/**
* mergeSort is an algorithm for sorting a passed array.
*
* @author Eric LIfka
* @version 1.0
*/</blue>
public class MergeSort{

/**
* merge takes two arrays as parameters and returns a sorted array.
*
* @param left - one of two arrays to be merged
* @param right - the other array to be merged
* @return result - the resulting array
*/
public int[] merge(int[] left, int[] right){
// Initialize numbers to be used in the merge algorithm
int leftLength = left.length;
int rightLength = right.length;
int leftLocation = 0;
int rightLocation = 0;
int resultLocation = 0;

// Initialize result array to joint length of left and right
int[] result = new int[leftLength + rightLength];

// the merge algorithm

// goes through the two arrays adding values to result from smallest to largest
while (leftLocation < leftLength && rightLocation < rightLength){
if (left[leftLocation] < right[rightLocation]){
result[resultLocation] = left[leftLocation];
resultLocation ++;
leftLocation ++;
} else {
result[resultLocation] = right[rightLocation];
resultLocation ++;
rightLocation ++;
}
}
// these two while loops add whatever's left of the two arrays to the end of result
while (leftLocation < leftLength){
result[resultLocation] = left[leftLocation];
resultLocation ++;
leftLocation ++;
}
while (rightLocation < rightLength){
result[resultLocation] = right[rightLocation];
resultLocation ++;
rightLocation ++;
}

// Return the result
return result;
}

/**
* sort takes an array, separates it into two equal arrays
* and calls itself on the two new arrays, sorting the array
* via recursion.
*
* @param source - the array to be sorted
* @return the sorted version of source
*/
public int[] sort(int[] source){
// Check to see if source is size one and return it if so
if (source.length <= 1){
return source;
}

// Initialize left, right and middle
int middle = source.length / 2;
int[] left = new int[middle];
int[] right = new int[source.length - middle];

// Run through source separating it into left and right
for (int length = 0; length < source.length; length++){
if (length < middle){
left[length] = source[length];
} else {
right[length - middle] = source[length];
}
}

// Call merge on the sorted version of left and right
return this.merge(this.sort(left), this.sort(right));
}
}</tt>

CSC 216/s08/cultivate virtue

2008-04-04T08:22:55Z

Eslifka: /* Alphabet Soup */

===Formatting Resources===
[http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_examples Formatting Help Guide from MetaWiki]

==Alphabet Soup==

===Object Oriented Instruction===
Many students enter csc 216 with very little idea of what it is for a programming language to be 'object oriented.' Our goal is to help students understand the benefits of a system that allows for black box architecture in a closed source environment.

===Required Resources===
For this exercise participating students will want to be close to a white board and have access to a working dry erase marker. No other resources are needed.

===The Exercise ... dum dum dum===
The idea here is to create a working human powered version of a sentence writing class. Obviously such a thing is not actually useful or even logical in a Java environment but we feel that it's a great way of explaining the power of object oriented programming.

First, the architecture.
-At the lowest level are the letters. Students will be given a group of letters that fall within their jurisdiction. For example, the vowel class student would have a,e,i,o, and u under their control. As many or as few letters as desired can get given to any individual student. Punctuation marks can also be included here if desired. The job of each student of the letter class category is simple. When called (which is as simple as a higher class saying "I need an 'a' or I need a capitol 'a'") the student writes the required letter/punctuation mark at the next available place on the board. The student in charge of spaces should make some identifying mark, such as an underscore to designate a space.

-At the level above the letters are the word classes. There are nine of these (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection). One of these should be given to each of nine students. The job of these classes is a little more interesting than that of their letter brethren. When called, it is their job to come up with a word that fits their category; so for example, when noun is called (again, by someone of a higher class saying "I need a noun") the noun class person might come up with the noun ball, or tree, or anything they so desire, much in the spirit of ad libs. Having come up with a word, the class then makes calls to the letter classes in order to 'print' the desired word to the board.

-We will have one class that acts as manager. This is the class that makes calls to noun and verb and etc. It is also this classes responsibility to make a call to 'space' between words. The creativity of this class can allow the exercise to be entertaining and fun.

This exercise doesn't encompass sections of Java that are necessarily hard to understand. Instead it strives to help students get into an object oriented mindset. The ability to program cannot truly be taught. Instead we can only help students to try and understand how an object oriented language like Java works. Once students begin to grasp the power inherent to a language like Java.

CSC 216/s08/cultivate virtue

2008-03-27T18:48:35Z

Eslifka: /* The exercise will include each student in the class. 26 of the students will need access to either letter stamps or dry erase markers. */

===Formatting Resources===
[http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_examples Formatting Help Guide from MetaWiki]

==Alphabet Soup==

===The goal is to teach students about object oriented concepts and multi class/method architectures in programming Java.===

===The exercise will include each student in the class. 26 of the students will need access to either letter stamps or dry erase markers.===

The class will create a sentence construction package which will be used for several 'ad lib' type exercises. Numbers allowing 26 students will each be a letter. Preferably each person who is a letter has access to a stamp of their letter, another option would be to simply use a dry erase board for writing on. 7 students will each represent classes pertaining to noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. One person will be the overall package 'driver.' It is this person's job to say, "Alright, I need a noun, I will call my noun class," or "I need a verb, I'll make a call to my verb class." Upon being called, the noun class person then comes up with a word that fits his/her bill (ie a noun) and makes appropriate calls to the people of the letter classes. The letter classes, upon being called, write or stamp their letter in the next position on the board.

A slightly different version, which makes use of methods, and a slightly smaller class/fewer participating students would group letters into one class with multiple methods. Fore example, one student would be the vowel class and would have the methods printA, printE, printI, printO, printU (we'll leave y to the consonants for this exercise). And similar groupings of letters would be used for other students, such as b,c,d,f,g or some appropriate amount for the number of participating students. Then when the noun class decided to print 'hobgoblin' he/she would call a class .printH then vowels.printO, and so on and so forth.

While not perfect, this setup allows students to see how they can create classes with methods that other classes can also use. It should help break the "I'll use one class with one main method" that many students carry.

CSC 216/s08/cultivate virtue

2008-03-27T18:48:18Z

Eslifka: /* Alphabet Soup */

===Formatting Resources===
[http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_examples Formatting Help Guide from MetaWiki]

==Alphabet Soup==

===The goal is to teach students about object oriented concepts and multi class/method architectures in programming Java.===

===The exercise will include each student in the class. 26 of the students will need access to either letter stamps or dry erase markers.===

===The class will create a sentence construction package which will be used for several 'ad lib' type exercises. Numbers allowing 26 students will each be a letter. Preferably each person who is a letter has access to a stamp of their letter, another option would be to simply use a dry erase board for writing on. 7 students will each represent classes pertaining to noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. One person will be the overall package 'driver.' It is this person's job to say, "Alright, I need a noun, I will call my noun class," or "I need a verb, I'll make a call to my verb class." Upon being called, the noun class person then comes up with a word that fits his/her bill (ie a noun) and makes appropriate calls to the people of the letter classes. The letter classes, upon being called, write or stamp their letter in the next position on the board.

A slightly different version, which makes use of methods, and a slightly smaller class/fewer participating students would group letters into one class with multiple methods. Fore example, one student would be the vowel class and would have the methods printA, printE, printI, printO, printU (we'll leave y to the consonants for this exercise). And similar groupings of letters would be used for other students, such as b,c,d,f,g or some appropriate amount for the number of participating students. Then when the noun class decided to print 'hobgoblin' he/she would call a class .printH then vowels.printO, and so on and so forth.

While not perfect, this setup allows students to see how they can create classes with methods that other classes can also use. It should help break the "I'll use one class with one main method" that many students carry.===

CSC 216/s08/cultivate virtue

2008-03-27T18:47:50Z

Eslifka: /* The goal is to teach students about object oriented concepts and multi class/method architectures in programming Java. */

===Formatting Resources===
[http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_examples Formatting Help Guide from MetaWiki]

==Alphabet Soup==

Give the title of your exercise, which may include the name of the topic you are covering, or some other catchy title.

===The goal is to teach students about object oriented concepts and multi class/method architectures in programming Java.===

===The exercise will include each student in the class. 26 of the students will need access to either letter stamps or dry erase markers.===

How many students will participate? What else do you need (e.g., old tennis ball, Powerpoint slides, software).

===The class will create a sentence construction package which will be used for several 'ad lib' type exercises. Numbers allowing 26 students will each be a letter. Preferably each person who is a letter has access to a stamp of their letter, another option would be to simply use a dry erase board for writing on. 7 students will each represent classes pertaining to noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. One person will be the overall package 'driver.' It is this person's job to say, "Alright, I need a noun, I will call my noun class," or "I need a verb, I'll make a call to my verb class." Upon being called, the noun class person then comes up with a word that fits his/her bill (ie a noun) and makes appropriate calls to the people of the letter classes. The letter classes, upon being called, write or stamp their letter in the next position on the board.

A slightly different version, which makes use of methods, and a slightly smaller class/fewer participating students would group letters into one class with multiple methods. Fore example, one student would be the vowel class and would have the methods printA, printE, printI, printO, printU (we'll leave y to the consonants for this exercise). And similar groupings of letters would be used for other students, such as b,c,d,f,g or some appropriate amount for the number of participating students. Then when the noun class decided to print 'hobgoblin' he/she would call a class .printH then vowels.printO, and so on and so forth.

While not perfect, this setup allows students to see how they can create classes with methods that other classes can also use. It should help break the "I'll use one class with one main method" that many students carry.===

Describe how to do your exercise.

CSC 216/s08/cultivate virtue

2008-03-27T18:46:35Z

Eslifka: Alphabet Soup

===Formatting Resources===
[http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_examples Formatting Help Guide from MetaWiki]

==Alphabet Soup==

Give the title of your exercise, which may include the name of the topic you are covering, or some other catchy title.

===The goal is to teach students about object oriented concepts and multi class/method architectures in programming Java.===

Describe what you are attempting to teach students by this exercise.

===The exercise will include each student in the class. 26 of the students will need access to either letter stamps or dry erase markers.===

How many students will participate? What else do you need (e.g., old tennis ball, Powerpoint slides, software).

===The class will create a sentence construction package which will be used for several 'ad lib' type exercises. Numbers allowing 26 students will each be a letter. Preferably each person who is a letter has access to a stamp of their letter, another option would be to simply use a dry erase board for writing on. 7 students will each represent classes pertaining to noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. One person will be the overall package 'driver.' It is this person's job to say, "Alright, I need a noun, I will call my noun class," or "I need a verb, I'll make a call to my verb class." Upon being called, the noun class person then comes up with a word that fits his/her bill (ie a noun) and makes appropriate calls to the people of the letter classes. The letter classes, upon being called, write or stamp their letter in the next position on the board.

A slightly different version, which makes use of methods, and a slightly smaller class/fewer participating students would group letters into one class with multiple methods. Fore example, one student would be the vowel class and would have the methods printA, printE, printI, printO, printU (we'll leave y to the consonants for this exercise). And similar groupings of letters would be used for other students, such as b,c,d,f,g or some appropriate amount for the number of participating students. Then when the noun class decided to print 'hobgoblin' he/she would call a class .printH then vowels.printO, and so on and so forth.

While not perfect, this setup allows students to see how they can create classes with methods that other classes can also use. It should help break the "I'll use one class with one main method" that many students carry.===

Describe how to do your exercise.