Data Acquisition, Output Control, and Graphics: Teaching Objects with Real Objects in First-Year Computer Science

该项目将为与CS 1（第一年计算机科学课程）相关的封闭实验室开发一套新的高度激励性的体验。在这些实验室中，学生将从外部世界（传感器，操纵杆等）获取数据，显示和处理它，并控制外部世界的进程。操纵杆实验室的初步经验是相当成功的;学生的反应是热情。 实验室开发的核心思想将相对独立于语言;实验室最初将为C++实现，然后为Java实现（Java实验室应该是C++实验室的直接翻译）。实验室将利用已经是许多计算机系统的一部分的设备（例如，tickets和声卡）或相当便宜。许多实验室将涉及学生团队，而不是个人工作。预计这些新的实验室体验将显着提高学生的积极性，因为它们将允许学生使用真实的世界数据、控制外部设备并生成看起来专业的图形输出。

This project will develop a new set of highly motivating experiences for a closed laboratory associated with CS 1, the first-year computer science course. In these labs, students will acquire data from the external world (sensors, joystick, etc.), display and otherwise process it, and control processes in the external world. Preliminary experience with a joystick lab has been quite successful; student reaction was enthusiastic. The core ideas in the labs to be developed will be relatively language independent; the labs will initially be implemented for C++ and then later for Java (the Java labs should be a straight-forward translation of the C++ ones). The labs will utilize equipment which is either already part of many computer systems (e.g., joysticks and sound cards) or is fairly inexpensive. Many of the labs will involve student teams rather than individual work. It is anticipated that these new lab experiences will significantly increase student motivation, since they will allow students to work with real world data, control external devices, and produce professional-looking graphic output.