Please send an email if you have a problem with these tutors or if you have questions: Support.

Welcome to the IS 147 Web-Based Java Tutor

Before you run the tutor, enable popups for nasa1.ifsm.umbc.edu and userpages.umbc.edu.

The tutor teaches you the Java code to display "This is my first program." at a command line prompt when you run the program. The tutor is written as a series of Java applets. To facilitate your learning, the Java code is arbitrarily organized into the following eight lines of code:

//This is a comment.
public class MyProgram
{
public static void main (String[ ] args)
{
System.out.println("This is my first program.");
}
}

Several of the tutor sections require a large file to be downloaded from the server. When you move from one section of the tutor to another section, please wait until the transition is fully complete. Do not use your browser's back button, refresh button, or stop button because that will cause the tutor to terminate improperly.

The tutor has been tested with Firefox and Google Chrome. Be aware that there may be problems with other browsers.

It is best to use the tutor on one learning occasion. However, there are transition points throughout the tutor where you can stop and rest. If you start the tutor with the first link below, you will automatically be taken through the several stages of the tutor. You may use the other links below to revisit a section at a later time. The tutor will not "remember" where you stopped. Be sure to allow enough time for the transition from one stage to the next to complete.

UMBC students should use your UMBC username for your user ID. Do not use your SSN. Guests may enter GUEST when asked for a user ID.

The tutor is designed to transition automatically from one section to another after you select any of the below links. New students, however, should begin with Start the Tutor. There will first be a popup window in which you will enter your user ID or GUEST. When you have completed a section, another popup window will appear. Be sure to select "Ok" and let the program transition to the link for the next stage.

The tutor is written as a series of Java applets, which are programs that run in your browser. It may take up to a minute for the system to download and run the program, and your browser may look like it's frozen until everything is loaded. Try to be patient.

Use the links below to repeat any section of the tutor as often as you want. Repetition is very valuable for students who are new to Java.

Students are welcome to use the tutor before a course begins, but you will still be required to complete it during a class as an assignment.

At the end of each stage, the below pop-up window will appear. For credit, you must select "Ok" and let the transition complete as indicated in a message that will appear in the browser.

1. Start the Tutor
• This stage gives an overview of the program that you will learn.
2. Item Familiarity
   • This stage teaches you to type the components of the Java program correctly.
3. Item Identification
   • This stage teaches you to observe similarities and differences among the Java program's components.
4. Item Learning
   • This stage teaches you the syntax and semantics of the Java code. It gives instruction on the meaning of each item in the program.
5. Line Learning
   • This stage teaches you the program line by line. It gives instruction on the meaning of each line in the program.
6. Program Learning
   • This stage gives you the opportunity to type the entire program all at once. You can see the code as needed.