Using a modular construction kitfor the realization of an interactive

Computer Graphics Course

Frank HanischDr. Reinhard Klein

Prof. Dr.-Ing. W. Straßer

University of Tübingen

WSI/GRIS: Interactive Graphics System Lab

ED-MEDIA 98 June 22, 1998

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

2 / 9

Overview

Objectives we strived for in our Computer Graphics course

A guided tour through the course New challenges we had to solve in

extending and improving the course

Solution: a modular construction kit

How to visually build a program A brief conclusion

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

3 / 9

Objectives for the course

Common course environment– modern concepts of a graphics system– simple to use

Visualization and interaction– exploration in experimental setups– illustration, motivation, consolidation

Unrestricted– platform-independent– extensible– for free

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

4 / 9

A Guided Tour

The course environment combines– course text– programs and API– exercises

enables our students to– individualize their learning– deepen their understanding– participate in the course development

www.gris.uni-tuebingen.de/gris/grdev/java

interconnected

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

5 / 9

New Challenges (we had to solve)

Restricted reusability Complexity of object-oriented classes Complicated low-level programming Time-consuming programming

Student has difficulties in learning Tutor has difficulties in teaching

Solution: Modular components

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

6 / 9

A modular construction kit

Hypertext– generated automatically: unified design

Java Applets– common easy-to-use interface– clear structuring of the visual information– topic, key elements and relationships

Java Beans– reusable components – with or without graphical interface– modules for graphics, design, operations...

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

7 / 9

A visual builder tool

High-level approach:Visually compose small modules into new customized programs.

Functionality of data flow languages– development of new programs is easy– insights into structure instead of getting

confused with low-level source code– new modules ? traditional programming

www.gris.uni-tuebingen.de/gris/grdev/java

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

8 / 9

Conclusions

Unified learning environment for free High-level approach helps

– student– teacher

Powerful combination of– visual programming– data flow concept – cross-platform Java

Conversion to Beans: straight forward

Objectives

Guided Tour

Challenges

Course

KitIngredients

Usage

Conclusion

9 / 9

Many thanks !

P. Borodin, G. Rößner, R. Schwering, Dr. A. SchillingUniversity of Tübingen, WSI / GRIS

Prof. Unger, B. LemkenDistance Learning University of Hagen