SoftIntegration Solutions

 Middle and High Schools
 Colleges and Universities
 Enterprise
 Embedded Scripting
 Plotting/Numerical Computing
Why use Ch to teach C/C++ in middle and high schools?
US Congress declares Computer Science Education Week for K-12.

Knowledge of computer programming in C/C++ is one of the most fundamental skills for today's students as described in Why Teaching and Learning Computer Programming in C.

Ch is an ideal solution for students in secondary schools (middle and high schools) to learn computer programming in C/C++ and computer-aided STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) problem solving skills.

Why use Ch to teach C/C++ in middle and high schools?
C has a reputation for being difficult to learn and even more difficult to master. With Ch, this is no longer true. Ch was especially designed and implemented for beginners without any prior programming experience to get a quick start on computer programming in C/C++ and computer-aided problem solving.

"I used your products to learn more about C and C++. Out of the 15 products that I tried, yours proves to be the best and unbelievably easiest to use,"

-- Nick LaVeglia, a high school student.

Ch makes learning C/C++ as simple and easy as learning any other programming languages. It is the most effective tool for secondary school students to learn computer programming in C/C++ and computer-aided problem solving for the following reasons:

  • Ch is interpretive. Compiling translates a C program into binary code and saves it as an executable file that runs on a specific processor. Interpreting executes C statements one at a time. Ch let students execute a C/C++ program without compilation. It relieves students from tedious compile/link/execute/debug cycles,

  • Ch is interactive. Ch let students execute a C expression or statement interactively in a Ch command shell. This provides immediate feedback, and makes them powerful tools for learning basic programming and computing concepts.

  • Ch is ideal for classroom presentation. The interpretive and interactive nature makes Ch especially suitable for interactive presentations using a laptop in a classroom with a quick response to students' questions.

  • Ch supports easy graphical plotting. Ch contains graphical plotting capabilities for conveniently visualizing engineering and science problems.

  • Ch supports quick animation capabilities. Ch contains quick animation capabilities for conveniently visualizing engineering and science problems.

  • Ch supports numerical capabilities. Ch contains numerical computing capabilities for conveniently solving complicated engineering and science problems.

  • Ch contains Integrated Development Environment ChIDE. ChIDE included in Ch is especially developed to edit, debug or run a C/Ch/C++ program within the IDE. It supports the user interface in over 30 local languages such as Japanese, German, French, and Chinese on different platforms. You can set breakpoints, run a program step by step, watch and change values of variables during the program execution, inspect variables in different stacks with different colors, automatically indent code with syntax highlighting, etc. It is the most user-friendly IDE for beginners to learn computer programming in C/C++.

  • Ch makes beginners' learning experience more enjoyable. As an interpreter, Ch will display with many diagnostic warning and helpful error messages, instead of cryptic arcane error messages such as "segmentation fault" and "bus error" using C/C++ compilers and linkers. Students would be frustrated with these cryptic arcane error messages.

  • Ch has many features especially developed for teaching and learning in schools. Unlike other C/C++ development tools created for advanced and experienced professional developers, Ch is developed with special features for teaching and student learning. For example, ChIDE has many abbreviations for writing C/C++ code, including a convenient header for homework assignment.

  • Ch runs across different platforms. Ch runs in Windows, Linux x86 and PPC, Mac OS X x86 and PPC, and all other most commonly used platforms in both 32 and 64 bits with the same user interface. Students using different computer platforms will enjoy the same user experience. Skills learned from one platform can be applied in other platforms. Students using different platforms can collaborate easily on projects.

  • Ch is compatible with other computing and desktop tools. As a superset of C with features in C++, Ch is compatible with other C/C++ compilers, linkers, and IDE. From an editing point of view, ChIDE is compatible with Microsoft Word and Microsoft Notepad. But, typing and editing in ChIDE is interactive and more fun. Ideas, concepts, and techniques learned using Ch and ChIDE are applicable in other software packages and tools.

  • Ch can foster student's interest in STEM disciplines. With Ch, the notion that computer programming in C/C++ is only for nerd and computer guru is no longer true. Computer programming and solving complicated STEM problems in Ch is fun, enjoyable, simple, and easy for every student. It can help to develop student's keen interest in careers in Computer Science and STEM fields.

  • Ch is easy to learn by instructors. Using Ch, technology instructors in secondary schools without any prior computer programming experience can easily and quickly learn computer programming in C/C++. They can then readily teach their students fundamentals about computer programming and computer-aided problem solving.

    Which Courses Can Ch Be Used to Teach?
    Ch can be used to teach the following courses in secondary schools:
  • Technology 8
  • Technology 9
  • Information Technology
  • IT Essentials
  • Introduction to Computers
  • Computer Applications
  • Computer Programming
  • Robotics

    Which Additional Topics Can Be Covered in These Courses?
    In addition to introduction to computers, computer programming in C/C++, and computer-aided problem solving, the following additional topics can be taught using Ch.
  • Using a computer to type and edit documents in ChIDE.
  • Graphical plotting.
  • Quick animation.
  • Robotics using LEGO MINDSTORMS Robots.
  • Graphics using OpenGL.
  • Developing interactive Web sites through Web-based programming and Web-based computing .

    Unsolicited Comments from Users in Middle and High Schools
    Ch has been well received by instructors and students in secondary schools. Below are some unsolicited comments from users in secondary schools.

    "Although I have been teaching computer science at the high school level for 30 years, I am constantly searching for the perfect programming language for my students. In Ch, I have found the optimum programming language in terms of pedagogy, power, and ease of use. Ch is an interpreted version of C/C++ which makes it immediately useful as a mainstream language for student learning. Do you want power? All of the major libraries are included. Additional libraries can be added using Ch SDK. As I tell my students, Ch is like a famous spaghetti sauce... do you need a certain library? It's in there! Also, Ch comes with ChIDE, a remarkably easy and useful Integrated Development Environment for C/Ch/C++. The inclusion of ChIDE really makes programming easy for beginning programmers. Oh... I don't want to forget the interactive command line interpreter! It really is Matlab-esque in its functionality. Finally, do you want the speed of a compiler? No problem. You can use gcc or g++ and compile your finished product! Ch is a clear pedagogical winner for me and my students!"
    -- Dr. Stan Blank,Wayne City High School, Wayne City, Illinois

    "I am a teacher at a high school of seventy-four students. Our resources are limited so purchasing Borland's C++ is beyond our means. Thanks to your software I am able to provide our students with the experience of programming in C++; I am more than pleased with your software. Ten - twelve years ago I was employed at DeVry University in Kansas City, MO and developed the first Programming in C++ offered at that campus; at that time we used Borland's C++ package. After two weeks of using it, I find your software does an excellent job with presenting the concepts of C++. I feel that my students are getting a quality experience in programming in C++ and will be able to use this knowledge in college C++ programming courses.

    I would appreciate the recommendation for a text book that favorably supports your software. The topics provided in your Help page are very useful, and I like to also have a book for reference. In closing, I was pleasantly surprised with your software and couldn't be more pleased with its quality. When I began my internet search for shareware for C++, I wasn't prepared to find a product that is working out as well as yours is. Thank you very much."
    -- Bill Garnett, a teacher at Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School

    "Ch K8055 package makes it extremely easy for my high school students to write C++ programs to interface with a Velleman K8055 USB interface board to control a converted electric wheelchair robot they are building. Ch is the simplest solution for my students to learn C/C++ programming for hardware interface using a USB board. It works great!"
    --- Mark Mincieli, technology teacher at Mattituck Jr/Sr High School

    "I am a teacher for the Saint Joseph School system. I use Ch to teach a AP course, and I use it to do research on high temperature superconductivity. It makes learning C from scratch easier, and it makes research program development faster."
    -- Jeff Parish , Teacher, Saint Joseph School

    "I am teaching design and analysis of algorithms to a class of high-school students. Those students prepare for programming competitions. The younger among students are still learning the C/C++ language and would benefit from an environment where experimenting with the language is easier. This is where the Ch interpreter could help. That Ch comes with a number of Linux-like utilities is another benefit I see. "
    -- Boyko Bantchev, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics

    "I am a learner, getting re-acquainted with C programming, and learning C++. I needed a simple-to-use solution that would allow me to type and go without having to do complex builds and create projects just to see if my little "Hello World" would run. I tried and was overwhelmed by the popular packages (think Microsoft), but yours is perfect. A real strength of your software is that it can be used immediately by total beginners. Other solutions require that students understand what builds and linked libraries and such are before they can even think of writing "Hello World". Your software allows the student to begin at the beginning, and then learn about these things. But there's more. Even to my unschooled eye I can see that your software is a tool that will support sophisticated programming, and supports RAD/Agile/Extreme programming, all the hot buzzwords. It's something the student can continue to use well after they transition from student to professional. Thank you for your product."
    -- Shannon Dillman

    "I am using Ch to teach some friends C/C++ fundamentals. This is so much easier than the edit compile run sequence needed to demonstrate concepts through a compiler. Thanks again for a great learning tool."
    -- John Painter, Co-Founder, DoverSynergy, LLC.

    "I am learning both C and C++. I use Ch as an interactive learning aid. It is a wonderful tool and I cannot imagine these languages be made more "friendly" any other way. Thanks for the help."
    -- Jerry Laws