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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Mark,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> I do have to agree with you. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>While a function can modify a variable’s content it does not have to do so ( BTW , what is “content” ? is it the value it holds ? the data type it holds ? the name of the variable ? ).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>You can write a function that does not modify a variable’s “content”. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>By contrast I also accept that you can write an instruction that does not modify a variable by which I am thinking of print a string. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I can’t see how instruction can be wrong here and how it isn’t the most appropriate answer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Kevork Krozian<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Edulists Creator Administrator<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>www.edulists.com.au<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>tel: 0419 356 034<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Michael Wooldridge<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 15 May 2012 3:05 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List'<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Programming Instructions<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Re question 9. I see your point and, technically, I think you are quite correct. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Perhaps however the answer lies in the word ‘modifies’. Is A=0, setting the initial value of the variable, while the function modifies it? I don’t know! It’s a debate that could rage on for a while. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>If it does, I’m siding with you, that an instruction is the most appropriate answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><img width=194 height=86 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01CD32EA.920BDF00" alt="Description: signiture"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>"It is the tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know - and the less a man knows, the more sure he is that he knows everything" </span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Joyce Cary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Michael Wooldridge<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F6228'>Information Technology Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mornington Secondary College<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>1051 Nepean Highway, Mornington 3931<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>(</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>: 03 59700250 </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Wingdings 2";color:#1F497D'>6</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>: 03 59700299<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:mwo@mornsc.vic.edu.au">mwo@mornsc.vic.edu.au</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Important - </span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. There, that just about covers everyone's arse but yours, sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> <a href="mailto:[mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]">[mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]</a> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark KELLY<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 15 May 2012 2:06 PM<br><b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> [Year 12 SofDev] Programming Instructions<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>I've put the SD examiners' comments on the 2011 exam into my post mortem<br>(<a href="http://www.vceit.com/postmortems/2011sd/SD2011exam.htm">http://www.vceit.com/postmortems/2011sd/SD2011exam.htm</a>)<br><br>In the process I noticed section A, Q9...<br><br>In a program, a line of code that modifies a variable's content is best described as a<br><br>A. function.<br>B. procedure.<br>C. instruction.<br>D. control structure.<br><br>The official answer was A. <br><br>I don't know about this one... I acknowledge the word "best" but still wonder why couldn't the answer equally be an instruction? <br>A common instruction like A=0 modifies a variable's content just as often as a function would... more often, probably. <br><br clear=all>The study design (U3O2 KK09) says kids need to know "processing features of programming languages, including instructions, procedures, methods, functions and control structures" but instructions are not defined by the glossary, the old Fitzpatrick/Keane text, or Adrian's text (it's not in the index at least).<br><br>What do you regard as an instruction? Trying to get a definition from the internet is frustratingly elusive...<br><br>-- <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> (don't use my Edumail account!)<br>VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br><br>--<br>An E-flat, a C, and a G go into a bar. The bartender says, "I'm sorry, but I can't serve minors."<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>