of POOPLEs and beans . . .

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of POOPLEs and beans . . . Fintan Culwin
London South Bank University fintan_at_lsbu.ac.uk
http//cise.lsbu.ac.uk/pooples
6th learning of Prog April 2006
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Pre Object Oriented Programming Learning
Environments POOPLES
(impetus) The only way to learn software
development is to develop software! So the only
way to support the learning of software
development is to provide experience of
developing software . . . But existing
programming learning objects do not do this!
existing programming learning environments have
huge granularity! pre-programming as a
concept has disappeared! Design guidelines
active engagement with programming!
interpretive not compile/execute the
keyboard is a barrier small, focussed and
engaging Java syntax versions for
exposition, learning and assessment
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The PoopSub
Navigate the sub through the baffles before it
runs out of air.
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The PoopRat
Guide the rat to the cheese before it starves.
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The PoopMedic
Get the ambulance top the patient before they
expire.
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POOPLES architecture

death or completion
controller
obtains scripts from
proxy poople
sends scripts to
interned in
user interface
controls
iava interpreter
poople
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POOPLES in use
Used with 14 year old school students up to
postgraduate non-specialist entry students.
Used at a number of Universities (4 or 5 that I
know of!) Believed to be stable!! Well
received by the (male) learners. Accompanied by
guides on what and how to do. Available foc from
cise.lsbu.ac.uk Needs an undo capability
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Learning Beans
learning
ending space
starting space
time
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Learning Bean Architecture

content free behavioral framework
bean interface
content specific learning bean
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Beans design issues
content free framework, into which topic specific
material can be placed. context independent
(promiscuous!), even when content specific.
progressive disclosure, allowing cyclical
revisiting formative summative use
separation of activity management from content
management philosophically and pedagogically
neutral (promiscuous) challenging challenges
(i.e. non repetitive) appreciation of different
roles . . .
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Beans roles involved
The learner will interact with an instance of a
bean to do some
learning will revisit the same or similar
places at different
times. The instructional designer will
locate, evaluate, configure, support, explain
etc. a bean instance will
place this instance somewhere along
the learners possible path(s). The
learning bean designer - designs builds a
learning bean that can be
plugged into the bean framework to produce a bean
from which instances can
be obtained.
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Bean Configuration
Configures the content independent bean behaviour.
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Imperative Bean
Configures the content specific bean behaviour.
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Selection Bean
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Loop Bean
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Subject Independence The Piano Bean
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Shameless Plug!! 2006 London Marathon 23 April
www.justgiving.com/fintan