In Alice3 you will create virtual 3D worlds. You will add characters, animate them, and interact with the user to create games and tell stories. You will create programs by dragging and dropping graphic tiles. By animating and manipulation the 3D characters in the virtual world, you will learn to use the same programming tools that are typically taught in a beginning programming course.
The goal of this lesson is to download and install the latest version of Alice and run it.You will learn how to navigate in Alice and learn aboutsome of the 3D models that you will learn to animate later in the course.
Installing Alice 3: Install Alice in Windows or Mac
A Brief Tour of Alice: Video Overview of the components in Alice
A Gallery Tour: Video overview of the 3D models available
Objects: Shows some of the main categories
Substitutions for things you can't find: You won't find everything you want.
Crashing: Alice tends to crash, but there are steps to avoid frustration.
Create a Final Project: The final project, animating a fairy tale, or other known story, teaches you to design, test, and debug a larger project.
Self Study Questions: What have you learned?
Discussion questions: What do you think?
Select a starting template: There are many templates: grass, sea floor, snow, room, mars, and more.
Code Editor vs. Scene Editor: Add 3D models in setup scene, add code in code view.
Naming conventions: Follow these conventions for the names you give objects, variables and methods.
Change the code preference to Java: Show your code in the same mode as the videos.
About the first program: Important things to remember when you create the first program
The first program: Hello World: This video demonstrates how to create your first program.
Editing the say command: This video demonstrates how to create your first program.
Adding comments: This video demonstrates how to add comments.
Why Hello World?: Why you should write the Hello World program
Sim People: Sim people let you customize the appearance of a person.
Using doTogether: Animals all say hello at the same time.
Complete Step 1 of the final project.
Camel Case: Camel Case is the naming convention of starting a name with a lower case letter, then using an uppercase letter for each new word. Examples: userName, madHatter, badDude, etc. Names can not have a space, and camelCase is a way to separate words in a name to make it easier to read.
Discussion: What do you think?
Pseudocode: Step by step instructions written in human language. For example in pseudocode we might write "the ball bounces", but the actual code would have the ball move up and down.
A game: Rock, Paper, Scissors: Explanation and Pseudocode for the game
Flowcharts: A flowchart is a drawing that shows the steps in an algorithm.
Storyboards: A storyboard helps you design the entire movie: each scene shows the actors, positions, and scenery
Drawing Flowcharts: Video shows how to draw flowchart using draw.io
Flowchart for Rock, Paper, Scissors game: The top level flowchart for the rock paper scissors game is shown.
Truth table for Rock, Paper, Scissors game: Video creates a truth table in Excel.
Complete Step 2 of the final project.
Open an existing project: Instead of selecting a template choose other tabs: starters, my projects, recent, file.
Adding Characters to a Full Scene: One of the problems with starting with a full scene is that you may not be able to find the characters you add.
Look up, Say it slower: Make the witch look up, say the words slower.
Editing the room template: Change the walls, ceiling and floor in the room template.
Editing the code: Edit the code, change the object, add parameters, and delete or disable statements.
Functions vs. Procedures: In addition to procedures, there are also functions.
The goal of this lesson is to understand how objects view the worldand how to move them in the Alice virtual world.You will be able to move, turn and roll the objects that make up your scene.
Movement in Alice: Video demonstrates the basic principles of object motion and rotation
How Objects see the Virtual World: Video demonstrates move, turn and roll
Directions: Each object has a sense of direction: forward, backward, left, right, up, backward, and down.
Dolphin tricks: Moves, Turn and Roll: A dolphin moves up, down, left and right
A Dancing Chicken using move, turn and roll: How to add move, turn and roll procedures to the code
Using Functions: Shows the difference between procedures and functions.
Eagle flies around the mesa: Eagle flies places using place and spatial relations.
Rabbit Falls in Pond using Functions: Uses the functions getDistanceTo and getHeight.
Changing the position of camera and objects: Using the various handles
Moving vertically: Use the handles to turn, roll, and move any of the objects in your project.
Hang Picture on Wall: Putting a canvas on the wall
Camera views: Stacking Boxes: Different views help to stack 3 boxes
How to Change the ground: Change the ground, opacity, add fog, light from above and below
Using Vehicles: A penguin and Egg: Position the egg on penguins feet, then make the penguin the vehicle for the egg
Using Vehicles: Monkey holding Banana: The monkeys thumb is made the vehicle for the banana
Using Markers: Markers let you set up positions for objects to move to
Using Camera Markers: Camera markers let you set up positions for the camera to move to
Posing in Scene Editor: Learn to pose subparts in scene editor using handle tools.
Posing using One Shots: Learn to pose subparts in scene editor using One Shots
Opening and shutting a car door: Open the car door in scene view using one shots
Troll turns head: Use a variable for the amount to turn head, use it to turn to left and right.
Moving the arms: A biped's two arms are mirror images of each other.
Posing using code: Code is used to pose a subpart.
Moving the legs: Legs both descend down from the bodybut are mirror images of each other from left to right.
Raising the leg: Try raising the other leg.
Hands on the head: Variables are used to make it easier to experiment
Self Study Questions on poses: What have you learned?
Discussion questions on poses: What do you think?
Scene Procedure for Top-Down Design: A Scene Procedure is code that is separate from myFirstMethod
Procedures for top down design: Video shows how to use procedure for top down design.
Both an Indoor and Outdoor Scene
Move code to procedures
Scene Procedures: Hello World using procedures.
Scene Procedures2: The Yeti family says hello and goodbye using procedures.
Disabling Procedure
Scene Parameters: Adding parameters makes the procedure more versatile.
Playing Sounds: Video shows how to import and play any mp3 file.
Variables: What is a variable?
Variables for ease of modification: Use variables to make changes easier
Variable Scope: Scope is where a variable is available
Data Types: Values in Alice can be string, integer, double, Boolean or any of the gallery classes.
Drill on type: See if you can select the correct type.
Name of variables: Variable names must follow rules, such as no spaces.
Drill on names: See if you can select the valid names.
Variables for movement: Variables are useful for any movement
Editing variables: Add to variable
S Jointed Model as variable: The jokester can be any of the animals.
Ask the users name and say hello: Use the function getStringFromUser to ask the user his name, then say hello using the name entered.
Ask the user how old they are: Use the function getIntegerFromUser to ask the user's age.
Ask the users their favorite food: Wolf asks "What's your favorite food?", then says that is his favorite too.
Panda asks how much to turn: We ask the user for a double and the panda spins around that amount.
Martian asks if he is on Mars: We ask the user for a Boolean value.
Cost of 3 Soccer Balls: How much does one soccer ball cost? Then 3 would cost total=cost * 3
Counters: Penguins count using counter=counter+1
The Witch is Older: What ever age you say you are, the witch says she's older.
The fish share the gold coins: Learn about division and remainders.
Integer Division Drill: Practice integer division.
Remainder Drill: Practice finding remainders.
Finding a Tip: The Mad Hatter calculates 15% tip.
Cost of 3 different items: Finds the total of 3 different values: total=total+cost
Monkey jumps for banana: Monkey jumps a bit higher each time by multiplying variable by 1.3
How far is the cave?: We use a function to find how far away something is.
How tall is the snow-woman?: We use a function to find height.
Ask if it is nighttime: The function getBooleanFromUser gives a choice of true or false.
Using Boolean Expressions in If Block: Ask if Thor is happy, he says ha-ha or boo-hoo
Pass or Fail: Compare a score to 65 and say "Pass" or "Fail"
Child or Adult? Comparing values: Compare age to determine if child or adult
Restaurant? Using AND: &&: Need restaurant with hamburgers and pizza
Teenager? Using AND: &&: You are a teenager if age >=13 AND age <= 19
Panda says "Whee!" if turning fast: Panda says "Whee" if amountToTurn > 2.0
Who is taller? Finding larger of 2: Use the function getHeight to find the taller of two animals
A Quiz Game: This video shows how to create a quiz and keep track of number right.
A True/False Question: Using if to tell the user the answer is right.
A drill on Boolean values: See if you can do these comparisons
The user is offered coffee and tea: See if you can add another choice
The seagull asks how many penguins there are.: See if you can add to this project
Control Structures: Control structures control the order in which statements are executed.
Using a count loop to count to 3.: Use count control structure to count to 3.
Using a count loop to shake head no.: Use count control structure to shake head no 3 times
Using a count loop to wave: Use count control structure to wave 3 times
Counting with a while loop: A toddler says 1, 2, 3 using a while loop
Count down and blast off!: Counting down with a while loop: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 blast off!
Scope of variables: It's important where you declare variables.
Yeti circles around baby penguin: Uses an endless while loop to circle continuously.
Fish swims back and forth: It's important to start and end in the same position.
Moose and skunk move between marked locations: Markers let objects move to a marked position.
Pixie moves between marked locations: Pixie moves between several markers.
Editing markers: Edit object markers: add, delete, re-rename, and change the color
A Walking algorithm: Get into position, take three steps, return to starting position.
Loki Waves: Video shows statements for making Loki wave.
A Biped Waving Procedure: Copy the code for Loki waving to create procedure for any biped to wave.
Adding Parameters to a Procedure: Parameters are added so that we can vary the amount to wave and times to wave.
Witch casts spell: Parameters let us cast the spell on anything to change it to anything else.
Break the Spell: A Scene procedure is used to break the spell.
Make the dog crazy: Several Parameters: Several parameters are added to call the dog.
Anyone can walk: A procedure for a biped to walk can be used for any biped.
Counter Loops: Using a while loop to count using counter=counter+1
3 Guys take turns counting: Using a while loop to count using counter=counter+1
Calculate Distance to Move Bunny: Distance to move to be next to something
Calculate Distance to Move Skater: Distance to move to be next to something
Writing functions: Create a function to get distance to move next to something
Loop to add numbers: A loop to add numbers uses a running total: total=total + number
Loop to add numbers and find smallest and largest: The first value is the smallest and largest so far.
Displaying some random values: Uses textModel to display a random double value between 0 and 1.
Displaying values from 1 to 6: A random integer from 1 to 6 inclusive to roll die
Panda Turns a Random Amount: A random double
A Counting Quiz: How many fish do you see? (Some of the fish are invisible.)
Addition Quiz: Bears ask you to add numbers, then tells how many you got right.
Guess the Aliens number: Loops until the user guesses the number: give hints "too high" and "too low"
A Penguin Jumps Up and Down: Use a random value each time he jumps to make it look more realistic.
A Fish swims back and forth: Random numbers for the distance to swim makes it more realistic.
Arrays: Ready, Set, Go!: Tortoise says "Ready", "Set", "Go" using array
An array of animals: An array of SJointedModel contains, yeti, tortoise and stuffedTiger
The animals talk: Parallel Arrays: One array contains animals, the other the things they say
Who's the tallest?: People are in an array, a loop is used to find the tallest.
Animals counting: An array of animals take turns to count
Birds spread wings and say something: An array of birds perform
Fish swim to cave with procedure: Each fish swims to cave with procedure
Segments of an elephant's trunk as an array: The segments of an elephant's trunk, tail and a few other things are an array.
As Seen By: A different point of view: The argument asSeenBy shows a movement through the eyes of another object.
A UFO as the vehicle for the camera: Video show how to assign a vehicle to the camera.
Using billboards to display images: A UFO lands in Paris using a billboard with a picture of Paris.
A Simple way to change scenes: Create scene procedures and change the ground and visibility of objects.
Cinderella scenes with camera markers: The camera uses camera markers to switch from scene on the left and one on the right.Uses two different Cinderellas.
Adding transitions to scene changes: Transitions are created by fading a billboard in and out.
Export and Import procedures: This video illustrates how to export and import procedures and functions.
Adding properties to a class: Video shows how to add properties to a class.
Self Study Questions on advanced techniques: What have you learned in the advanced lesson?
Discussion questions on advanced techniques: What do you think?
A dog wags his tail continuously: The addSceneActivationListener makes a dog wag his tail continuously while other actions take place.
Playing a background sound: To play background music use initializeEventListeners to play sound together with myFirstMethod.
Click on the bear event: The bear says something when the user clicks on him.
Click on several different objects: Each animal says something when clicked
Drag and Drop: Using default model manipulation in event listeners lets the user drag and drop objects at run time.
Collisions: Making something happen when objects collide.
The keypress event: Learn how to listen for a key press (typing a letter) and respond
Object Mover and Key press events: Add object mover for the shark so that the user can move it with the arrow keys.
A Timer Event: Using the timer event, the penguin says "Help!" at random intervals.
Alice Programming