Have students create a Burrito class in Java to practice object-oriented programming using an object they are familiar with.
Have students write many small, simple classes in Java to scaffold their learning of the basics of object-oriented programming.
Have students create a game of Tetris in Java to work on object-oriented programming and decomposing complex programs.
Use SRec, a recursion visualization tool, in your introductory Java courses to help students conceptualize the recursive algorithms they write.
Compare loops to climbing a flight of stairs to give students a model for how for loops work in real life.
Be on the lookout for loop syntax that belongs to another language when students are learning multiple languages because they sometimes confuse syntax and create hard to spot bugs.
Create a physical model of Java objects and references in order to demonstrate situations where multiple references point to the same object in a way that’s easier for students to comprehend.