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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello all </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>interesting debate this about what and how much to
teach of: VB6 v VB.NET v OO in general. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some bits and pieces I have come across in the last
couple of weeks:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>VB appears to be losing favour <A
href="http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html">http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and the graph the provided seems to suggest a real
trend (click VisualBasic or <A
href="http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/paperinfo/tpci/%28Visual%29_Basic.html">http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/paperinfo/tpci/%28Visual%29_Basic.html</A>)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and the reason maybe that MS made too big a change
in going from VB6 to VB.NET</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>see 'criticism' at <A
href="http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/paperinfo/tpci/%28Visual%29_Basic.html">http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/paperinfo/tpci/%28Visual%29_Basic.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And the other point that interests me is the
continued very high position of C (a non-OO) which may be partly
explained by legacy issues, but may also be explained by OO apparently not
meeting with favour by the whole programming world:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>see 'criticism' at <A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object-oriented_programming">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object-oriented_programming</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and the links make intersting
reading.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert T-A</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Brighton SC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
href="mailto:janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au">Janson, Adrian A</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=sofdev@edulists.com.au
href="mailto:sofdev@edulists.com.au">sofdev@edulists.com.au</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 07, 2010 12:08
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Year 12 SofDev] VB6.0 in the
approved languages list</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">Hi
everyone,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">OK.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So serves me right for not turning my
email on today!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">I
think I should clarify my stance (which is of course mine and not
VCAAs)!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">The
programming language panel had a discussion about whether VB6.0 would be
allowed or not.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For my part – I
argued that it was probably time to ‘retire’ VB6.0 as it is getting fairly old
now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I use VB.Net and always the
most current version – but don’t teach all of the OOP concepts (although I do
demo some of them so that my students can see what OO is).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In reality, the study design just
assesses 3GL concepts – but this is not the issue.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In part the languages in the approved
list are there to ensure currency.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Now I for one am a believer that it ultimately doesn’t matter what
language we use as by the time our students a graduating an IT course – there
will be something else out there.... a new version or a new language?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we give our students is an
understanding of logic and syntax and they can apply this to languages beyond
the one they use in SD.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">So
when languages are being considered for the approved languages list – the
first question is always – does the language allow all aspects of the course
to be taught and assessed?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some
languages do not pass this test.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The ones that are left are then considered – and I think it is wise
that the list is not too large.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Consideration is given to current popularity and use.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I do feel that we should at least be
making an attempt to teach languages that are currently being used and this is
where VB6.0 is/was on the cusp.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Can you teach all aspects of the course with VB6.0?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The answer is definitely yes – but I
think that there are OO things in VB6.0 that are not the same as the OO things
in VB.Net – and VB6.0 is not a true OO language.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think that if we were discussing the
inclusion of Cobol in the approved languages list, then it would be a
non-argument and everyone would agree that it is too old a language to
include.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">I
also feel that we should be making every effort to make the course as
attractive to students as possible and potential SD students will probably not
be excited about VB6.0.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Students
have a pretty good idea about what is being in industry and have an
expectation that they should be using current tools.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are also definite advantages in
using the most current version of a language as there is more support for it
on the www and the Express Edition can be downloaded and used for free.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are great resources out there to
support all of the languages in the list so the transition should not be too
difficult.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I for one am very
willing to assist anyone who needs help going from VB6.0 to
VB.Net. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">Adrian<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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</FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A
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