Object-Oriented Programming in Java

Course Summary

In this course, you’ll learn the key concepts of object-oriented programming (OOP) as well as fundamental programming techniques.
A key concept of OOP is to distribute tasks between several suitable components. Each of these components has its own state and behavior and can communicate with other components. You’ll apply your newly acquired knowledge by implementing hands-on programming exercises in the Java programming language. The course will be completed by an exercise in which you’ll model a small, object-oriented, real-world scenario.

For a better understanding, the programming exercises are combined with a detective story. Help Duke to solve his mysterious new case!

After completing this course, you’ll be able to model and implement small programs in Java and apply OOP best practices.

Course Characteristics

Starting from: June 13, 2018, 09:00 UTC
Duration: 6 weeks
Effort: ~6 hours per week
- Depending on your level of knowledge, this time may vary
- If you participate in the bonus assessment, you may need additional time
Assignments: Hands-on programming exercises, quizzes, weekly exams, final exam
Bonus points: Hands-on modeling in a team (Team Peer Assessment)
Course language: English

Learning Outcomes

Java Basics

Get started with a Java program (Main method, Hello World)
Read and understand Java Syntax
Know and apply basic programming constructs in Java (variables and types)

OOP Basics

Basics of UML class diagrams
Create classes based on UML diagrams
Know and understand terminology of object-oriented programming (class, object, instance)
Create classes including methods and attributes

OOP Advanced Topics

Know and understand terminology of object-oriented programming (instance, inheritance, composition)
Classes and subclasses
Polymorphism: overriding (and overwriting) methods

Java Advanced Topics

Know and apply further programming constructs in Java (conditions and loops)
Understand and apply statements, assignments, operators
Implement inheritance relationships in Java
Implement aggregations in Java
Java collections
Error handling

Modeling Basics

Inheritance, aggregation, association

IDE Basics

Eclipse, Compiler, Interpreter
Improving code quality
Version Control

Course Content

Introduction: Programming Basics
Week 1: Java Classes and Objects
Week 2: Further Programming Concepts
Week 3: Object-Oriented Programming
Week 4: Modeling
Week 5: Advanced Programming Concepts
Week 6: Final Exam
Outro: Introduction to a Java IDE and Outlook

Course Requirements

To participate in this course, all you need is to be interested in programming. You’ll also need a computer with Internet access and a modern browser.

Previous experience in programming will be helpful but is not necessarily required.

Previous Version of This Course

The previous version of this course (in German) is available here (on openHPI):

Objektorientierte Programmierung in Java (March 27 through May 14, 2017)

Attention: This course is currently in self-study mode, in which you do not have access to graded assignments/exams. Therefore, we can only issue you a certificate of participation.

Our teachers

Christiane Hagedorn

Christiane Hagedorn did both her bachelor's and master's degree in Media Informatics at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. Now she is a PhD candidate at the Hasso Plattner Institute and explores the potential of game-based learning in e-learning contexts.

In her leisure time, Christiane is singing in a choir, likes to travel the world, and taking pictures while doing some hikes. She also loves playing digital and non-digital games, which is one of the reasons for choosing her research topic. In the past, she worked on several game projects. In addition, she has developed a great passion for teaching.

Ann Katrin Kuessner (openHPI Team)

Ann Katrin Kuessner graduated with a Bachelor of IT-Systems Engineering at the Hasso Plattner Institute and is currently pursuing her masters. She currently works as a software engineer for openWHO.org, the sister platform of openHPI and openSAP. In her free-time, you can mostly find her outside doing sports, preferably in the mountains. Additionally, she works voluntarily as a ski instructor for her skiing club and gives workshops and supervises camps for STEM topics.

Dr. Thomas Staubitz

Dr. Thomas Staubitz is a Senior Lecturer at the Internet Technologies and Systems group of Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel at the Hasso Plattner Institute at the University of Potsdam.
His general research topics are in the area of eLearning and MOOCs.
A particular focus is on collaboration and interaction among course participants and assessment strategies beyond multiple-choice quizzes.

Ralf Teusner

Ralf Teusner was a PostDoc at the Enterprise Platform and Integration Concepts research group of Professor Dr. h.c. Hasso Plattner, located at the Hasso Plattner Institute at the University of Potsdam. His research area is centered around eLearning and MOOCs. Especially the adoption of programming languages and concepts as well as the potential and influence of social interaction are in his focus. He also worked at SAP as a Senior Researcher and Software Developer. Currently he is a Professor for Information Science and Cloud Computing at the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences.