Teaching integrative programming has been an incredible experience for me as an instructor. While this course is lecture-only, it requires significant active participation to ensure students truly grasp the key concepts and technologies that make integrative programming so exciting. With no lab exercises, everything revolves around understanding the complexities of APIs, communication protocols, and data consistency across various systems. It’s a fun, dynamic approach to teaching where students actively engage with the material, research independently, and contribute to their learning in meaningful ways.
Our Journey Through the Topics
So far, our journey has covered a range of critical topics in integrative programming. We’ve begun with an Introduction to Integrative Programming before diving into more specific areas like API Design and Usage. We’ve explored Communication Protocols and Data Formats, learning about key structures like JSON and XML, and familiarized ourselves with essential tools like Postman for API documentation and testing.
The students worked hard to understand common communication protocols like HTTP, MQTT, and gRPC, and they learned how middleware plays a crucial role in system integration. The examples of Apache Camel and MuleSoft demonstrated how integrating different technologies can optimize business processes.
As the semester continued, we delved deeper into more complex topics, such as Message Brokers (e.g., RabbitMQ and Kafka) and the exciting world of combining different programming languages, like Java, Python, C#, and JavaScript. These concepts set the stage for understanding Language Interoperability Techniques and the various integration patterns, such as Event-Driven Architecture.
The Students’ Experience
What I find most enjoyable about this class is how well the students have taken to researching these topics on their own. While we have no traditional lab sessions, they have access to a wealth of resources online and a dedicated Google Sites page where I’ve posted all the instructions and materials they need. Here’s the link to the page, which they can reference at any time: Integrative Programming Course Materials.
The students have truly embraced the challenge of conducting independent research and experimenting with the different programming languages covered in the course. They are encouraged to learn at their own pace, making their journey uniquely personal.
Top Achievers in the Class
Our top students have shown remarkable dedication and understanding of the material. Here are the standout performers in the course:
- PEEK, Arch Angel: 1.25 (92%)
- CUIZON, Ehroll: 1.25 (90%)
- DIALIMAS, Danica: 1.25 (90%)
- CABALES, Janah Faye: 1.5 (90%)
- CANTERO, Lyka: 1.5 (90%)
These students consistently excelled because of their commitment to attending class, completing activities on time, and producing exceptional work for their mini-theses. Their research projects were well-executed, and the video documentation they submitted clearly explained their processes and results. Additionally, they interviewed IT professionals to gain real-world insights into the topics they explored, making their projects even more impactful.
The Power of Active Participation
This class has demonstrated the power of active participation and self-driven learning. While the lack of hands-on lab exercises might seem limiting at first, the approach we’ve taken encourages students to dive deeper into research, engage with real-world problems, and connect with professionals in the field. They’ve learned not just the technicalities of integrative programming, but also the discipline required to research, document, and present their findings in a clear, professional manner.
The semester has now come to a close, and it has been a rewarding experience to witness the students’ growth throughout the course. They’ve brought everything they’ve learned together in their final research papers, showcasing their understanding and skills in integrative programming. I’m incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and the professional-level projects they’ve delivered. It has truly been a fulfilling journey, and I’m excited to see how these students will apply what they’ve learned in their future careers.