In this class, we learn about the basics of different coding languages, such as Java and HTML, and use Eclipse to work through labs and projects. We also learn to develop our own personal websites, which you are looking at now. We have learned about different data types, objects, AWT graphics, static arrays, and array lists. Scroll to see some of my favorite labs so far!
This lab helped introduce us to for loops and how they work. The goal was to create a series of straight lines inside a rectangle so that they appear to be curved. I enjoyed this lab because it was fun to experiment with what would happen if parameters were changed. I was also able to change the color of the lines, which I did in a variety of ways. My code is embedded below. Click on this link if you can't see the file.
This program was part of our introduction to Array Lists. It simulates a game of Bulgarian Solitaire, where a triangular number of cards is distributed until it reaches a series of piles of 1, 2, 3, etc. I liked working on this lab because I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning. Working through them helped me to better understand how array lists work and it was satisfying once I figured it out. My code is embedded here - try it out for yourself! Click on this link if you can't see the file.
In addition to often being a required aspect of a college application, standardized testing plays an important role of the high school experience, with the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and the ACT (American College Testing) being the two most taken tests in the United States. In 2024, around 1.94 million high schoolers took the SAT while 1.4 million took the ACT (Claybourn, 2024). However, this intense pressure to perform well on these tests has been linked to increased levels of stress and anxiety among students and educators (Stanford, 2023). To address this issue, our team created an app for SAT studying that integrated traditional practice questions into an immersive, interactive software to combine rigorous math coursework with gameplay. Unlike traditional studying, our app includes gamified aspects, such as dueling and fun animations, to make studying for the math section of the SAT more enjoyable. The app was developed using the game engine Godot and a publicly available dataset of official SAT math practice questions from the College Board. These questions are displayed in the game to quiz the user with official practice questions and to collect personalized feedback. We hope that through this app, high school students will be more motivated to study for the SAT while preparing more effectively in a low stress way.
Target Audience:The target audience of this app is high school students studying for the SAT. The app specifically appeals to students that may have an upcoming SAT test in 1-12 months and are looking to increase their score in the math section, but find studying boring, unmotivating, and/or discouraging.
Minimum Viable Product:Three core features are included in the MVP: turn-based combat on one level, math questions appearing on attack, and damaging hits varying with player correctness.
The Process:Document the process (research, design, implementation, and test). First, we identified the issue by sending out a survey to our classmates at Mass Academy. We concluded that students studied much less than initially planned, which was the problem we decided to address. Then, we designed the app architecture, as seen in our diagram below. After, we implemented features like sprite animations, attack and heal buttons, escape, and questions. Additionally, we implemented hit or miss tags, music, and heart animations. We had around 90 test cases, and we were able to pass 82 of them.
Click on this link if you can't see the file