One of the most important things you can do to be successful in this course is write code, LOTS of it - practice, practice, practice! You will do some of this in lab and on homework assignments, but you should also look for coding exercises on your own. Exercises can be found throughout the book and class slides, and in various places on the internet, such as codingbat.com (try Googling something like "Java coding exercises" or "beginning Java programming exercises"). One word of caution - some of the exercises you find might be beyond what you are ready for, or what we have covered in class. If you get stuck on an exercise, then move on to another, and come back later. In other words, do the easy ones first. Additionally, you should also type in (or cut-and-paste), compile and execute all examples that we discuss in class. I would also encourage you to modify them in various ways, as we discuss in class. Don't be afraid to use your imagination and try modifications we haven't discussed. Many of the most common coding questions are of the form "what happens if...". My answer - don't ask me, ask the compiler. In other words, try it and see what happens. When doing relatively short coding exercises (not large projects or homework), you should also write your answers BY HAND first, and then type them in, compile and run. This will help prepare you for in-class quizzes and exams, where you will not have the help of the computer. Finally, you will certainly get lots of exercises in class and in lab, but don't wait. Find them on your own, get started, and don't stop! Be proactive!