The Shoe Store Project

Overview

In this three-part Java project, students help a friend who is opening an online shoe store by building a program that tracks her inventory. It is designed for AP Computer Science A Unit 3 (Class Creation), when students are writing their own classes for the first time.

What students do

  1. 1

    The Scenario (3.10.1)

    Students meet the shoe store scenario and learn why programmers plan before they code.

  2. 2

    Planning (3.10.2)

    Students plan the Shoe class on paper: what information each shoe should store, what the constructor should set up, and which values other code should be able to read or change.

  3. 3

    Code (3.10.3)

    Students write the Shoe class in Cobi's in-browser code editor, with a constructor, an inventory that starts at 10, a sold() method that lowers the inventory, a restocked() method that raises it, and a getInventory() method that reports it. They test it in a separate Main program.

A built-in autograder checks each requirement and gives students immediate feedback, and a 6-point rubric scores the final program. Students who finish early can add their own methods. Teachers receive a sample solution.

At a glance

Course
AP Computer Science A
Unit
Unit 3: Class Creation
Topics
3.1 Abstraction and Program Design, 3.3 Anatomy of a Class, 3.4 Constructors, 3.5 Methods: How to Write Them
Learning objectives
3.1.A, 3.3.A, 3.4.A, 3.5.A
Skills
1.A, 2.B, 2.C, 3.C
Audience
Students
Time
46 to 90 minutes
Final deliverable
a working, autograded Shoe class

How to access the project

  1. Sign up for a teacher account at https://app.gocobi.com/signup.
    Sign up as a teacher
  2. Your account is reviewed and approved within 24 hours. You'll receive an email notification when it is active.
  3. Log in at https://app.gocobi.com/signin. On the Home page, click Create Course, choose Template-based, select the AP Computer Science A template, enter a course name and short description, and click Save.
    Log in
  4. Open the section listed under your new course (for example, “[Section1] AP Computer Science A”).
  5. In the course outline, open Unit 3: Class Creation and select 3.10 The Shoe Store Project. Its three parts are listed underneath.

Each teacher gets their own copy of the course, so lesson links are unique to your account.

Teacher resources