Object Oriented Programming in Java

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/object-oriented-java

Introduction

### Course Review and Recommendation: Object Oriented Programming in Java on Coursera #### Overview The "Object Oriented Programming in Java" course offered on Coursera is an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) using Java. The unique twist of integrating data visualization into the learning process makes this course especially appealing to a wide range of learners, whether you are looking to become a professional software developer, enhance your programming capabilities for personal projects, or simply explore the world of coding. Throughout the course, learners will progress through practical assignments and engaging projects that solidify their understanding of OOP concepts, making this a highly applicable course for both novices and those with some programming background. #### Course Structure The course is structured over several weeks, each with a thematic focus and hands-on assignments which thoroughly scaffold learning. Here’s a brief overview of the weekly breakdown: 1. **Welcome and Project Overview: Visualizing Data**: - Introduction to the course’s structure and the instructors, including Google engineers. - The first week sets the stage for understanding basic OOP concepts through the lens of data visualization, sparking enthusiasm toward upcoming projects. 2. **Memory Models, Scope, and Starting the Project**: - Diving deeper into the fundamentals, this week emphasizes memory management and the scope of variables in Java. - Students begin their first coding assignment, enhancing their programming fluency through real-world applications. 3. **Graphical Output: Creating GUIs and Displaying Data**: - Focuses on developing an interactive graphical map to visualize geospatial data. - Encouragement to experiment with code fosters creativity and deepens understanding, making for a fun and engaging week. 4. **Inheritance**: - Introduces the concept of class hierarchies, enabling students to comprehend and implement inheritance and polymorphism in their projects. - This foundational concept in OOP prepares learners for more complex programming challenges. 5. **GUIs: Responding to User Events**: - Learners add interactive elements to their projects, implementing event-driven programming. - Engaging with mouse events provides practical experience which enhances the functionality and responsiveness of their applications. 6. **Searching and Sorting: From Code to Algorithms**: - The course culminates with an introduction to fundamental algorithms related to searching and sorting. - This week not only ties together previous concepts, but also opens the door to deeper explorations of algorithm efficiency in future courses. #### Why You Should Enroll - **Practical Application**: The focus on hands-on projects ensures that you won’t just be absorbing theory; you’ll be applying what you learn in tangible, interactive ways. - **Expert Instruction**: The course features insights from industry professionals, including Google engineers, which enhances the quality of the materials and guidance you receive. - **Flexibility**: The ability to self-pace your learning experience is particularly advantageous for learners with varying schedules. Those who find certain content familiar can skip ahead, while others can take their time to grasp challenging concepts. - **Engaging Content**: The blend of project-based learning with creativity allows learners to develop not only technical skills but also problem-solving abilities, preparing them effectively for future projects and professional opportunities. #### Final Thoughts The "Object Oriented Programming in Java" course on Coursera is a valuable resource for anyone looking to either start or enhance their knowledge in Java programming and OOP principles. Its combination of theoretical learning and practical application through data visualization makes it a unique offering in the vast landscape of online education. Whether you’re preparing for a career in software development, seeking to advance your technical skills for personal projects, or simply exploring the world of programming, this course is certainly worth considering. Enroll now, and embark on an exciting journey into the realm of Java and Object-Oriented Programming!

Syllabus

Welcome and Project Overview: Visualizing Data

Welcome to the first week of our course. In this week, we'll get started by introducing ourselves and the Google engineers who will be making appearances throughout the course. We'll also give you of the unique video series we provide and help you understand how to navigate the course to get the most out of it given your background and learning speed. Finally, we'll jump right into objects and designing classes. This might be a bit of review for some of you who might have learned this in your first programming course. If that's the case, feel free to jump ahead to the Practice Quiz at the end of the week. Let's get started!

We hope you’re excited about the project that we're starting to build -- we sure are! In this second part of this week, we'll walk you through setting up your system and working through your first assignment so you'll be having fun with it in no time. Before that though, we'll finish going over some of the fundamentals fundamentals of object oriented programming. Specifically, being able to trace code is a key skill in becoming a stronger programmer. Like the end of last week, the first part of this week might be a bit of a review of material you already learned in your first Java programming course. If that’s the case, you are always welcome to skip to the first graded assignment on Objects, Memory Models, and Scope.

Now that you have the tools to write and trace object oriented code, let’s get back to developing the project! In this first (real) part of the project, you will create an interactive graphical map that will display geospatial data. This is a highly interactive week, so make sure you’ve got Eclipse loaded up! We encourage you to play around as you watch the videos. Some of the code that we use in the videos is in the demos package in the starter code you set up for this course. Open it up and experiment with it while you're watching the videos. We also encourage you to dive right into the programming project, even before watching the videos, if you want. The programming assignment instructions are in the last lesson of this week - you can watch a video walkthrough of the instructions and also read the step-by-step directions in the accompanying reading. There’s lots of room for creativity, too, so have fun!

Now that you’re in full swing with the project, let’s take a closer look at some concepts that you have already been using in your code. Specifically, the keyword “extends”. What exactly does it mean that your program “extends PApplet”? To answer this question we’ll need to dive into the details of how Java allows for Class Hierarchies through Inheritance and Polymorphism. These fundamental and powerful concepts will serve you well in the future! We’ll use these ideas to allow for displaying markers differently. If you feel you’re already comfortable with Inheritance and Polymorphism, feel free to dive straight into the project (programming assignment) for this week. As you work with the project, feel free to have some fun and introduce new levels of class hierarchies for improved functionality.

You’ve reached an exciting point in the project - in this week you’ll add interactivity to your map! You’ll be learning how to design event-driven programs, using a new and powerful programming paradigm. Your map will now respond to mouse hovers and clicks. As always, make sure you're writing code along with us as you watch the videos and work through the week. Also, feel free to dive into the programming assignment (project) whenever you are ready

You've come a long way in this course, and you've got a great project to show for it. In this last module we'll shift gears a bit to talk about some very exciting and fundamental algorithms for finding and sorting data in an array. Searching and sorting algorithms are not only fundamental to computer science, but also ideal for beginning to explore issues of algorithm efficiency. We will only begin to touch on issues of algorithm efficiency here. We will say much more about it in the next course in this specialization, so we hope you will continue with us. We'll also apply sorting to your project, and you'll wrap things up by finishing your project with an extension of your own choosing.