Thanks for the feedback, John. I find the meaning of '=' is clear in context. There's a big difference between<br>
<span style="font-family: courier new,monospace;">A=4</span><br>
and<br>
<span style="font-family: courier new,monospace;">IF A=4 THEN...</span><br>
<br>
At least in VB there is.<br><br>
Actually, the main reason I hate <-- is because it's so difficult to
insert into documents such as exams. <-- (as plain text) looks like
an obscure "less than and less and less" operator, and the only way I
know to insert a <b><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">real</span> </b>arrow character is to use Wingdings or a codepage from Arial or some other typeface, which may not supported by all computers. <br>
<br>
In Word I use Insert > Symbol but I wonder if that will render
properly on Macs or other platforms. Can anyone confirm whether Word
characters can be ported?<br>
<br>
Let me try to stick a left-arrow here and see if it renders properly on
people's computers... I'm using gMail's rich text editor.<br>
<br>
Arial or Calibri - character U+2190 (using Windows Character map) is after this colon:←<br>
Can everyone see a left arrow?<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Mark<br>
<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On 19 May 2011 14:31, John Schwartz <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jschwartz@parade.vic.edu.au">jschwartz@parade.vic.edu.au</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
For
me, one of the reasons for pseudocode is to help students transition
between their, usually rather poorly expressed, idea for the algorithm
and the code. For this reason I like to see a reasonable standard
structure which more or less matches the code structure they will use.
It gives us a good point of discussion as to how the program needs to be
written and how the algorithm works.<br>
<br>
I also like the <-- structure because it allows for the varied usages
in different languages and distinguishes clearly between assignment and
equality.<br>
<br>
John<br>
<br>
John Schwartz<br>
Parade College<br>
1436 Plenty Road<br>
Bundoora, Victoria, 3083<br>
Phone: 03 9468 3300<br>
Fax: 03 9467 3937<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:jschwartz@parade.vic.edu.au">jschwartz@parade.vic.edu.au</a> | web: <a href="http://www.parade.vic.edu.au/" target="_blank">www.parade.vic.edu.au</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<div><div class="h5">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Mark KELLY [mailto:<a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a>]<br>
Sent: Thursday, 19 May 2011 12:13 PM<br>
To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br>
Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Pseudocode standards<br>
<br>
Hi Alan. I agree with you. Pseudocode needs to be easy to interpret
(which is partly why I think showing assignment with <-- is not a
good idea).<br>
But to make pseudocode more concise, I'd like some higher-order
constructs. At the moment we're basically using flowchart-level
structures whereas we could step up to the more elegant basic N-S
shapes.<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Mark<br>
<br>
On 19 May 2011 11:35, Allan Barnes <<a href="mailto:abarnes@aiet.com.au">abarnes@aiet.com.au</a>> wrote:<br>
> In my opinion pseudocode serves two purposes - it serves to<br>
> demonstrate to fellow programmers the intent of my program, and it<br>
> also serves to demonstrate to the user what the program will basically<br>
> do. It is in essence an English-ised version of the code. It doesn't<br>
> need to have a specific structure or construct because it is not code<br>
> and does not need to be universal. It is there to communicate to<br>
> people who don't want to read the lines of code written in code what<br>
> the program will do, so it has a purpose, but a limited and defined purpose.<br>
><br>
> Of course I did my post-grad study some years back now so the<br>
> programming environment has changed a lot, but I think pseudocode still has a purpose.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Kind regards<br>
><br>
> Allan Barnes, CEO<br>
> Australian Institute of Education and Training P.O. Box 171 Brunswick<br>
> West 3055 Melbourne, Victoria<br>
> Ph: (03) 9387 2051<br>
> FAX: (03) 9387 3470<br>
> Mobile: 0409 428 221<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> -----Original Message-----<br>
> From: <a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a><br>
> [mailto:<a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>]<br>
> On Behalf Of Mark KELLY<br>
> Sent: Thursday, 19 May 2011 10:50 AM<br>
> To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br>
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Pseudocode standards<br>
><br>
> I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of the quiet people who<br>
> subscribe to the list. If you're quiet because you're worried about a<br>
> bad reaction, please rest easy.<br>
><br>
> This list is officially unicorns and rainbows for all contributors.<br>
> We encourage all input, and enjoy any on-topic spirited debate that<br>
> does not become acrimonious or personal.<br>
><br>
> So please chip in. Most of the talent on the list is the hidden 90% of<br>
> the iceberg...<br>
><br>
> Cheers<br>
> Mark<br>
><br>
><br>
> On 18 May 2011 11:16, Mark KELLY <<a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a>> wrote:<br>
>> Hi Claudia and all<br>
>><br>
>> Is there any news on what pseudocode we can expect to be "standard"<br>
>> in SD exams? Until recently there wasn't even a FOR structure in<br>
>> pseudocode,<br>
> but<br>
>> it's there now (Q4 in the sample questions) - a good move.<br>
>> What other structures and syntaxes does VCAA consider appropriate?<br>
> <snip><br>
><br>
> --<br>
> Mark Kelly<br>
> Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area McKinnon Secondary College<br>
> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia Direct line /<br>
> Voicemail: +613 8520 9085, Fax +613 9578 9253<br>
> <a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a> VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com/" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>
> Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br>
><br>
> Want a good time? Call 0112358. Ask for Mr Fibonacci.<br>
><br>
<br>
--<br>
<br></div></div></blockquote></div>-- <br>Mark Kelly<br>Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area<br>McKinnon Secondary College<br>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia<br>Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085, Fax +613 9578 9253<br>
<a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com/" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br>
<br>
<font>Want a good time? Call 0112358. Ask for Mr </font>Fibonacci.