This document discusses an innovative approach to using Web 2.0 technologies in a CS1 course. The approach aims to address recruitment, retention, and attrition by moving away from textbook assignments towards more interactive web applications centered around student interests. Students learn basic programming skills by creating interactive websites using AJAX technologies. Examples are provided of the types of assignments students could build, and a hands-on demonstration is given of the platform used. Benefits include providing students a new and meaningful experience that allows them to showcase their work easily. Some challenges are noted, such as a lack of textbook support and incomplete features of the underlying framework.

1. An Innovative Approach to Using Web 2.0 in CS1 Stephen H. Edwards [email_address] http://web-cat.org

2. What do I mean by Web 2.0? Highly interactive AJAX-based Web applications With a more modern look and feel http://web-cat.org

3. What was our motivation? Proactively address recruitment , retention , and attrition concerns: Move away from textbook-oriented assignments Move toward assignments that have real-world relevance Speak to students’ interests Create solutions meaningful outside the classroom http://web-cat.org

4. The basic idea … Teach students basic programming skills … … In the context of writing interactive web applications Give students more flexibility and control over the information content in their assignments Culminate with an integrative project that is centered around student interests http://web-cat.org

5. So what can they do? Let’s look at a couple of examples http://web-cat.org

6. How does the technology work? http://web-cat.org WebDAV Page request AJAX

7. Can students really write this? Let’s try a hands-on example Open your web browser and go to: http://zk.cs.vt.edu/zk/sigcse08/ http://web-cat.org

8. Let’s discuss … Let’s hear your: … questions … issues … concerns … suggestions http://web-cat.org

9. What are the benefits? “ New” experience for students, even if they’ve done lots of programming Forces students to think about creating something meaningful outside the classroom Students can “show off” their work to others easily Nifty technology http://web-cat.org

10. There are rough edges to work on No textbooks cover this The underlying framework is still evolving Some features are not complete Some features are not orthogonal Student-level documentation is lacking Error handling needs improvement http://web-cat.org