Print this page Object-Oriented Thinking
Warren T. Jones, Ph.D., P.E.
Course Outline
Object-oriented
(OO) design and programming has become one of the major forces in computing
today. The programming expertise of many practicing engineers is based in procedure-oriented
FORTRAN and C languages. Transitioning to today's OO paradigm is not simply
"learning another language", as in moving from FORTRAN to C, for example.
It requires learning a new way of thinking. This course is designed to be a
first step for engineers toward this new way of thinking. The emphasis is on
OO thinking and not a particular programming language. OO methodology is well-suited
for dealing with the problems of software complexity and scales up well to large-scale
systems. Although small scale engineering applications may not always be seen
as benefiting from OO directly, the new OO languages such as Java may be attractive
for other reasons such as network applications and platform independence.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to
enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At
the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Have an understanding of the historical roots of object-oriented design;
- Understand that object-oriented design begins with capturing behavior;
- Understand the strengths of the object-oriented design approach;
- Appreciate the investment that must be made to make the object-oriented approach work;
- Learn basic principles of object-oriented thinking;
- Understand how the mechanisms of inheritance, polymorphism and composition can be used to promote software reuse;
- Learn some basic features of the popular object-oriented Java language; and
- Be familiar
with additional resources that can be used to build on the initial knowledge
provided in this course.
Intended Audience
This course is
intended for all engineers.
Course Content
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Module #1: Motivation
for Object-Oriented Design
Module #2: Object-Oriented Foundations
Module #3: The Power of Reuse
Module #4: The Java Language
Course Summary
This course provides
a conceptual overview of object-oriented (OO) technology. Historical roots,
strengths and weaknesses, and the mechanisms of encapsulation, inheritance,
composition and polymorphism are introduced. Some basic features of the popular
Java language are also discussed. It is intended as a first step for those interested
in making the transition from procedure-oriented programming to the object-oriented
paradigm. This transition requires a new way of thinking. There are a number
of reasons why engineers might want to consider acquiring OO knowledge and skills
in a language such as Java. The investment in OO technology has the potential
for reducing cost and increasing reliability.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
