As a representative Object Oriented programming language Java presents the user and teacher with a set of problems unlike those with earlier Third Generation Languages. This presentation will provide an overview of Java placing it in historical and technical context vis a vis earlier languages. The major theme within this overview is that one cannot use Java in isolation as it has necessary prerequisites in terms of technical knowledge and resources.

The concepts of classes, objects and associated methods and variables will be briefly explained with several clear examples used as illustrations.

Comment will be provided upon the wealth of support services available within this new programming environment and the conceptual and technical difficulties associated with their use.

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Colin Freeman is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Information Systems at the University of New South Wales. He has just completed a session of teaching Java to second year students and will draw upon his experiences in designing and presenting this course to students without any previous programming knowledge. As a direct result of work in this area, Mr Freeman will be presented a paper at the Asia Pacific World Wide Web Conference in Beijing in September 1998.