Assignment Information

Maximum grade:

20

Due date:

Thursday, March 10th

Instructions:

Installing and Starting Alice

To complete this assignment you will need the Learning to Program with Alice textbook and a copy of the Alice software (this is not the CD that comes with the Alice textbook).

1.       The textbook is available in the bookstore and at the bookstore website and the book may also be purchased from the publisher and other online sources.

2.       ALICE Programming software - can be downloaded at http://www.alice.org (download the most recent version) or you may pick up a copy on CD in the Electronics 109 Computer (MAGIC) lab on MJC's East campus.  The download is 115 Megabytes so may be difficult if you do not have access to a broadband network.

LAB SUMMARY

The objective of this first lab is to make sure all students have installed and accessed the ALICE software and are ready to begin programming.  Students working at home will obtain the ALICE software, install it on their work computer and review some of the programs basic features by creating some basic ALICE "WORLDS".   You will then print the code and a screen capture for one of the "World" files and then submit the assignment for grading.

INSTRUCTIONS

If you are installing the ALICE software instead of working in the computer lab:

1.       After obtaining your ALICE textbook and software seat yourself at your work computer and insert the disk obtained in the college lab or unzip the file you downloaded from the ALICE website (remember where you unzip this file to).

2.       The software does not have an installation file to run.  You will simply copy the files to your hard disk and then create a shortcut to make it easier to start.  From the CD or the unzipped file folder copy the ALICE folder and all of its contents to a location  on your hard-drive (C:\Program Files is a good location).  After copying the files open the ALICE folder and right-click on the Alice.exe file and choose send to from the menu and then create shortcut on desktop.  This will create a convenient way to start the program when you work.  If you are working in the computer lab you will find this shortcut listed in the start menus program section.

WHAT TO HAND IN:

1.       Read the first chapter in the Alice textbook while viewing the Alice program on a computer.  Try out the different keystrokes to control objects in the scene.

2.       At the end of the chapter exercises create the Island world. Run the World and use the “Take a Picture” button to save it in the middle of the action.

3.       Use the “Export code for Printing” menu option under “Files” to make a printable file.

4.      Print both the screen capture file and the code file. Hand in BOTH printouts