How to: Teach java?

[AndyB871]

@mathking robocode looks pretty neat, I think im going to combine a bunch of ideas here. I'm going to start with the MIT course first, using a couple of individual challenges along the way. Once they get comfortable with that I think we'll take a look at robocode and then finally WPIlib.

As for the IDE sub-conversation, I used to be a VS buff myself, but at work we develop software for small embedded platforms, hence no microsoft support. Short of using a text editor *blegh* I gave eclipse a try and i've come to love it, in all it's obfuscated glory.

Since I'm familiar with it, and since we're going to be stuck with it (essentially) for FRC I'm going to take the trial by fire route with eclipse and just commit to it. As issues crop up I'll show them how to navigate through the piles and piles of configuration options.

Thanks guys, this has been really helpful

[gblake]

Originally Posted by AndyB871

...
As for the IDE sub-conversation, I used to be a VS buff myself, but at work we develop software for small embedded platforms, hence no microsoft support. Short of using a text editor *blegh* I gave eclipse a try and i've come to love it, in all it's obfuscated glory.

Since I'm familiar with it, and since we're going to be stuck with it (essentially) for FRC I'm going to take the trial by fire route with eclipse and just commit to it. As issues crop up I'll show them how to navigate through the piles and piles of configuration options.
...

I understand. Eclipse comes with both blessings and curses.

Folks tell me that the Notepad++, sup'ed up text editor is not *blegh*. Ima gonna try it someday soon, but I haven't yet. It might be a nice lightweight intro that leads a student toward Eclipse or other IDEs, without quite so many fires or trials on day one. It's probably worth a quick peek.

[Jalerre]

This is a great resource for teaching Java. It breaks it down to the very basics and gives lots of examples. My suggestion would be to pick and choose the lessons that are the most applicable to FRC. And don't forget to utilize the resources that FIRST provides.