Using a modular construction kit for the realization of an interactive Computer Graphics Course Frank Hanisch Dr. 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 Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 2 / 9 Overview u Objectives we strived for in our Computer Graphics course A guided tour through the course u New challenges we had to solve in extending and improving the course u Solution: a modular construction kit How to visually build a program u A brief conclusion

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 3 / 9 Objectives for the course u Common course environment – modern concepts of a graphics system – simple to use u Visualization and interaction – exploration in experimental setups – illustration, motivation, consolidation u Unrestricted – platform-independent – extensible – for free

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 4 / 9 A Guided Tour u The course environment combines – course text – programs and API – exercises u enables our students to – individualize their learning – deepen their understanding – participate in the course development interconnected

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 5 / 9 New Challenges (we had to solve) u Restricted reusability u Complexity of object-oriented classes u Complicated low-level programming u Time-consuming programming è Studenthas difficulties inlearning è Tutorhas difficulties inteaching è Solution: Modular components

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 6 / 9 A modular construction kit u Hypertext – generated automatically: unified design u Java Applets – common easy-to-use interface – clear structuring of the visual information – topic, key elements and relationships u Java Beans – reusable components – with or without graphical interface – modules for graphics, design, operations...

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 7 / 9 A visual builder tool u High-level approach: Visually compose small modules into new customized programs. u 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

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 8 / 9 Conclusions u Unified learning environment for free u High-level approach helps – student – teacher u Powerful combination of – visual programming – data flow concept – cross-platform Java u Conversion to Beans: straight forward

Objectives Guided Tour Challenges Course Kit Ingredients Usage Conclusion 9 / 9 Many thanks ! u P. Borodin, G. Rößner, R. Schwering, Dr. A. Schilling University of Tübingen, WSI / GRIS u Prof. Unger, B. Lemken Distance Learning University of Hagen