Using Java To Develop Interactive Learning Material For The World Wide Web

Java has emerged as a powerful programming language for developing platform-independent, interactive and computational-based software that can be used on the World-Wide Web through a Java-enabled Web browser. The paper introduces the Java programming language, its advantages and disadvantages, and its characteristics for developing interactive instructional applications on the WWW. The interactive and computational capabilities of Java are demonstrated through a simple matrix assembly Java applet. With this applet, students assemble element equations into the global equations for structural analysis using the bar element. The matrix assembly applet features a graphical user-friendly interface, on-line help and interactive feedback.