Java Programming for Beginners Online – Uganda & East Africa

Course outline and learning expectations

This is a tutor-led course. The outline shows what your tutor will cover; teaching materials and examinations are provided directly to enrolled students.

What you will learn

• By the end of this course, the learner will be able to:
• Explain what Java is and identify its major uses.
• Distinguish between the JDK, JVM and Java runtime.
• Install and configure a Java programming environment.
• Create, compile and run Java programs.
• Write Java code using correct syntax and naming conventions.
• Declare variables and use Java primitive and reference data types.
• Apply arithmetic, comparison, assignment and logical operators.
• Read user input and display formatted output.
• Make decisions using if, else, switch and conditional expressions.
• Repeat operations using for, while and do-while loops.
• Store and process data using arrays and strings.
• Create reusable methods with parameters and return values.
• Explain the basic principles of object-oriented programming.
• Create classes, objects, constructors, fields and methods.
• Apply encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism at a basic level.
• Use interfaces and abstract classes in simple programs.
• Handle common programming errors using exceptions.
• Store data using introductory Java collections.
• Read from and write to basic text files.
• Debug and improve a Java console program.
• Build a complete beginner-level Java project.

Modules

1. 1

   Introduction to Computer Programming

   Meaning of computer programming.Understanding algorithms and instructions.Source code and executable programs.Introduction to programming languages.Compiled and interpreted programs.Developing logical and computational thinking.Programming careers in UgandaEast Africa and Africa.
2. 2

   Introduction to Java Programming

   History and purpose of Java.Main characteristics of the Java language.Java as a general-purpose programming language.Understanding platform independence.Introduction to Java bytecode.The role of the Java Virtual Machine.Java applications outside Android development.Structure of the Ellipkom Java learning pathway.
3. 3

   Understanding the JDK, JVM and Java Runtime

   Meaning of the Java Development Kit.Meaning of the Java Virtual Machine.Java compilation and execution.The javac compiler.The java launcher.Java class files.How Java code moves from source code to execution.Understanding Java versions and long-term-support releases.
4. 4

   Setting Up the Java Development Environment

   Installing the Java Development Kit.Confirming the Java installation.Configuring environment variables where necessary.Installing IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition.Creating a Java project.Understanding project folders.Creating a Java class.Running the first Java program.Using JShell for quick experiments.Solving common installation problems.
5. 5

   Java Program Structure and Syntax

   Creating a class.The main method.Java statements.Code blocks.Semicolons.Curly brackets.Single-line comments.Multi-line comments.Documentation comments.Case sensitivity.Java identifiers.Java naming conventions.
6. 6

   Variables and Data Types

   Meaning of variables.Declaring and initialising variables.Primitive data types.Integer data types.Floating-point data types.The char type.The boolean type.Reference data types.Constants using final.Type conversion.Implicit and explicit casting.Variable scope.
7. 7

   Operators and Expressions

   Arithmetic operators.Assignment operators.Comparison operators.Logical operators.Increment and decrement operators.Operator precedence.Compound assignments.Expressions and calculated values.Building simple mathematical programs.
8. 8

   User Input and Program Output

   Displaying output with System.out.print.Displaying output with System.out.println.Formatted output with printf.Introduction to the Scanner class.Reading strings and numbers.Converting user input.Handling newline issues.Validating simple user input.Building interactive console programs.
9. 9

   Conditional Programming

   Boolean expressions.The if statement.The if-else statement.Multiple conditions.Nested conditional statements.The else-if structure.The conditional operator.Traditional switch statements.Modern switch expressions.Creating gradingeligibility and pricing programs.
10. 10

    Loops and Repetition

    The for loop.The enhanced for loop.The while loop.The do-while loop.Nested loops.The break statement.The continue statement.Counters and accumulators.Input-validation loops.Creating menu-driven programs.
11. 11

    Arrays

    Meaning and purpose of arrays.Declaring arrays.Creating arrays.Initialising arrays.Accessing array elements.Updating array elements.Array indexes.Iterating through arrays.Multidimensional arrays.Common array errors.Applying arrays to records and calculations.
12. 12

    Working with Strings

    Creating strings.String immutability.Joining strings.String methods.Comparing strings correctly.Searching within strings.Extracting substrings.Changing letter case.Removing unnecessary spaces.Splitting strings.Introduction to StringBuilder.Processing namescodes and descriptions.
13. 13

    Methods

    Meaning and purpose of methods.Declaring methods.Calling methods.Method parameters.Method arguments.Return types.Returning values.The void return type.Method overloading.Local variables.Method scope.Static methods.Breaking large programs into reusable methods.
14. 14

    Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming

    Meaning of object-oriented programming.Classes and objects.State and behaviour.Creating classes.Creating objects with new.Instance fields.Instance methods.Constructors.The default constructor.Constructor parameters.The this keyword.Modelling real-world information with objects.
15. 15

    Encapsulation

    Meaning of encapsulation.Public and private access.Protecting object data.Getter methods.Setter methods.Validating values before assignment.Creating well-structured classes.Separating data from program interaction.
16. 16

    Inheritance and Polymorphism

    Meaning of inheritance.Base and derived classes.The extends keyword.Reusing inherited fields and methods.Method overriding.The super keyword.Introduction to polymorphism.Reference types and object types.Recognising when inheritance is appropriate.
17. 17

    Interfaces and Abstract Classes

    Meaning of abstraction.Abstract classes.Abstract methods.Creating and implementing interfaces.The implements keyword.Interface methods.Multiple interface implementation.Choosing between interfaces and abstract classes.Creating flexible program components.
18. 18

    Exception Handling

    Syntax errors.Runtime errors.Logical errors.Meaning of exceptions.The try block.The catch block.The finally block.Handling multiple exception types.Throwing exceptions.Reading exception messages.Preventing common program failures.
19. 19

    Introduction to Java Collections

    Limitations of arrays.Introduction to the Collections Framework.The ArrayList class.Adding and removing items.Accessing and updating items.Iterating through an ArrayList.Introduction to sets.Introduction to maps.Choosing between arrays and collections.
20. 20

    Basic File Handling

    Understanding files and paths.Reading text files.Writing text files.Appending information to files.Handling missing files.Closing file resources.Introduction to try-with-resources.Saving simple program records.
21. 21

    Debugging and Clean Java Code

    Reading compiler errors.Identifying runtime errors.Identifying logical errors.Using breakpoints.Stepping through program execution.Inspecting variable values.Meaningful classmethod and variable names.Code indentation and formatting.Avoiding duplicated code.Writing useful comments.Organising a small Java project.
22. 22

    Beginner Capstone Project

    Learners will planbuildtest and present one complete Java console application.Suggested projects include:Student marks and grading system.Personal expense tracker.Tour quotation calculator.Small-shop sales calculator.Mobile-money transaction charge calculator.Agricultural produce revenue calculator.Employee payment calculator.Simple library record system.Hotel room quotation program.School fees balance calculator.