Abstract

Teaching introductory object-oriented programming is considered difficult. We have developed a model-driven object-first approach with strong focus on systematic techniques and explicit exposure of the programming process. It is our experience that this is a very effective approach: the students learn object-oriented programming as well as fundamental software engineering techniques, and the dropout rate is down to a minimum. Keywords: Object-orientation, objects-first, programming, conceptual modelling, modeldriven, systematic programming, design by contract, programming process, apprenticeship