[Year 12 SofDev] Slightly off topic question

Tue Dec 12 23:34:34 EST 2017

Yes, even 'Scratch' includes the concept of functions for primary school
students early in their learning.

SD U3O1 KK04 lists functions - "processing features of a programming
language, including instructions, procedures, methods, *functions* and
control structures" - but SD exams have never examined functions for year
12 students.

Is VCAA *scared*?

Note: I learned this persuasive rhetorical technique from my big brother
when I was about 6.
It explains one broken left arm, some scratches and bruises, and quite a
few long, loud and furious (yet edifying) lectures from my mother.
It *should* work with Auntie VCAA, I reckon.
Let's look at the 2018 SD exam and see if my cunning plan works.  hehehehe

On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 3:01 PM, Kent Beveridge <kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au>
wrote:

> Hey there Mark...
> I gave the 'Swift Playgrounds' Apple language a run this year with the 7/8
> crew on their iPADS. It uses functions and looping in its learning phase.
> Plus...the kids enjoyed it as it had an animated character they were making
> do the moves(visual aspect!).
>
> just a thought...
>
> Kent.
>
> *Kent Beveridge*
> Teacher
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* sofdev [sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] on behalf of Mark [
> mark at vceit.com]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, 13 December 2017 2:12 PM
> *To:* Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Slightly off topic question
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 11:18 AM, Paragreen, Chris J <
> paragreen.chris.j at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:
>
>> I haven’t, but it gives me an idea …. A good way to embed some
>> algorithmic thinking …?
>>
>> Chris
>>
>
> I fully endorse the brief exposure of SD students to the concept of
> assembly code - even machine code, and how CPUs work in binary with
> registers and stuff.
> But... going to that depth to teach *algorithms* may be less beneficial.
>
> You *may* risk losing sight of the overall algorithm in the tortuous and
> bulky detail of the assembly code...
> High level source code hides the gory complexities of CPU operations and
> lets humans focus on higher, more spiritual and abstract programming
> matters.
> That's one of the reasons the exam only deals in generic, high-level
> pseudocode.
>
> <RANT>
>
> In fact SD pcode is *so* high level that I have yet to see any VCAA exam
> pseudocode that even calls a function using parameters!
> This *really* need to happen soon.
> The lack of functions in pcode is a serious deficiency in examining
> students' understanding of basic modular programming.
>
> Would it be so hard for pseudocode like...
>
> sampletext <-- "foobar"
> mode <-- "upper"
> newtext <-- CHANGECASE(sampletext, mode)
> DISPLAY newtext
>
> and then include a function like
>
> FUNCTION CHANGECASE(T,M)
>   IF M == "upper" THEN
>      Convert T to uppercase
>   ELSEIF m == "lower" THEN
>      Convert T to lowercase
>   ELSE
>       DISPLAY "Mode parameter must be UPPER or LOWER"
>  END IF
>  RETURN T
> END FUNCTION
>
> ... and then a nice question about calling the function, passing some
> parameters, and using the function's output?
>
> Think of how deliciously *juicy* the exam pseudocode could become with
> the added milky goodness of functions...  drool.
>
> </RANT>
>
> My point is, it can be all too easy to get lost in the lower-level opcodes
> and forget the overall shape and intention of the algorithm one was
> supposed to be working for.
>
> I don't miss the days when I could calculate in hexadecimal as easily as I
> could in decimal.
> Now I expect software to carry that mundane load for me, like a faithful
> servant, so I can dwell on more lofty and ethereal matters.
>
> Like lunch.
>
> --
>
> Mark Kelly
>
> mark at vceit.com
> http://vceit.com
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-- 

Mark Kelly

mark at vceit.com
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