15: Review and Project Demos

What We Will Cover


15.1: Final Exam Preparation

Learner Outcomes

At the end of the lesson the student will be able to:

  • Discuss how to prepare for the final exam
  • Describe how to take the final exam

15.1.1: About the Final Exam

Important Final Exam Information

Date and Time: Exam Schedule
Final Exam: 10:00 am-12:50 pm Friday, June 4
Location: CTC (Computer Technology Center)

  • You must attend the exam or you will receive a score of zero (0)
    • Except by prior arrangement with the instructor
  • I am using Blackboard to administer the test
  • You can only work on the exam during the scheduled time
    • So do not be late to the exam
  • The exam is closed books and closed notes
    • However, you may have one 3" x 5" card of notes for the exam
    • The 3" x 5" card must meet the requirements listed below
    • Also, you may have one sheet of blank scratch paper
  • You must empty your student folder before the exam

    If you keep your work in your student folder, make sure you save it somewhere else before the exam. You cannot take the exam until the instructor verifies your student folder is empty. Failure to empty the folder in advance may shorten your exam time.

  • You may use your computer for entering your work into Blackboard
  • Also, you may use the computer to compile or run programs using TextPad or at the command line
    • If you prefer an editor (not IDE) other than TextPad, you may install the editor before the test
  • You may NOT use the computer to search the Internet
  • You may NOT use any electronic device during the exam except except your assigned computer
    • You cannot use your own computer to take the exam
  • You may NOT communicate with anyone but the instructor during the exam

3"x5" Card Requirements

  • Put your name on your card
  • Maximum card or paper size is 3 inches by 5 inches
  • You may use both sides of the card
  • Notes must be handwritten and NOT photocopied
  • Notes cannot have any complete methods -- only code snippets
  • Any 3" x 5" cards violating these rules will be confiscated before the test
  • You must turn in your 3" x 5" card after the exam in any case

15.1.2: How the Final Exam Works

  • The final exam is a Lab Practical
  • This means that you must write code for the exam
  • You will be given a series of programming problems to solve
  • Successfully completing each problem is worth some number of points
    • Each problem has the number of points listed
  • You must show the instructor that your code compiles and runs before you leave in order to receive a grade
    • If your code does not compile, you will receive no more than half credit.
  • Look at the Practice Final Exam posted on the home page of Blackboard to better understand how the exam works

15.1.3: What the Final Exam Covers

  • The final exam is cumulative -- you should know everything we have covered
  • However, the focus is on newer material introduced since the midterm
  • The following is an outline of the most important topics covered since the last exam

Outline of Important Topics

  • Interfaces
  • Graphical-User Interfaces
    • Using buttons, labels and text fields
    • Laying out components
    • Writing and structuring event handling code
  • Exception handling
  • Dynamic data structures
  • Linked lists
  • Iterators
  • Files and streams
    • Description of files and streams
    • Buffering streams
    • Layering streams
    • Using the File class
    • Text file I/O
  • Threads
    • Coding threads
    • Getting threads to work cooperatively
    • Communicating between threads
  • Applets

Code You Should be Capable of Writing

  • Throwing, catching and handling exceptions
  • Custom Exception classes
  • GUI applications that display buttons, labels and text fields
  • Handling of ActionEvents
  • Using a JOptionPane for user I/O
  • Reading and writing text files
  • Using dynamic data structures such as linked lists

15.1.4: Recommended Preparation

  • You should always find out as much information about a test as you are allowed
  • The best way is to work through the practice final exam

    Tip: Treat the practice final exam like a homework assignment.

  • You can find out other information as well
  • Review your homework assignments and solutions
  • Review the instructor's posted solutions to assignments
    • Solutions are posted in Blackboard
    • Understand how the instructor solved each problem
  • Review the questions from the midterm exam

Study for the Test

  • Study over several sessions instead of one cram session
  • Work through the Practice Final questions in Blackboard
    • Work the problems in groups if it helps you
    • Get explanations for anything you do not understand
  • Make notes on problems on the Practice Final that you had difficulty with
  • Make sure you know how to solve those types of problems
  • Review your notes and prepare your 3" x 5" card
  • Do a quick review just before bed to let your subconscious aid in long term memory.
  • Get plenty of rest before the exam

15.1.5: Exam Taking Tips

  • Arrive at examination room a little ahead of time.
  • Listen carefully to any oral instructions for taking the exam and read instructions carefully.
  • Read every word in each test question
  • Note that you do not need to comment code for the final exam
    • Unless specifically instructed to in the exam question
  • Use the full time allowed

15.1.6: Questions and Answers

  • Questions on topics?
  • Questions on how to write code?

15.2: Project Demonstration

Learner Outcomes

At the end of the lesson the student will be able to:

  • Present their course project assignment

15.2.1: Project Presentation

Before the Presentation

  • Submit the following to Blackboard before the presentation:
    1. README.txt file
    2. All source code (i.e. .java files)
    3. Any other source code needed to make your program function.
  • Bring a paper copy of your written report and give to the instructor at the start of class
    • If you are using your paper for your presentation, be sure to bring an extra copy!

Project Setup

  • When class starts, the instructor will download the files from Blackboard to the desktop of the instructor machine
  • Your files will be placed inside a folder with your name
  • You can compile your code and run your program from your desktop folder
  • If you want to set up your project in some special way, you should arrive about 10 minutes before class starts

During the Presentation

Present the following information:

  • Introduce yourself and state the purpose of your project
  • Compile your program completely
  • Demonstrate your sampler project, explaining aspects as you go
    • Include an explanation of all extra-credit features
    • Point out the extras so we can all appreciate them
  • Limit the presentation to 10 minutes or less

After the Presentation

  • Feel free to leave (or stay) after your presentation
  • You can present to the instructor alone after the other presentations are through

Wrap Up

When class is over, please shut down your computer if it is on
Study for the final!
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Last Updated: May 22 2010 @13:46:32