I think you mean you are "floored". <br>The question, however, is probably "flawed".<br><br>:-)<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 16 May 2012 08:39, Adrian Janson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank">janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-AU"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Just catching up on this thread!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I must confess that I am a bit flawed by this answer – if the ‘answer’ is A – then certainly I would have I answered it incorrectly – and probably missed out on my ‘50’….<span> </span>I am not sure how a ‘function’ is the answer – perhaps it is a typo?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Cheers,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Adrian Janson<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US"> <a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark KELLY<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, 16 May 2012 8:05 AM<br><b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Programming Instructions<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I wonder if the examiners were thinking of inherent functions such as MID, SQRT, COS etc, because I haven't seen single-line functions since the days of Quickbasic.<u></u><u></u></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal">On 15 May 2012 22:34, Kevork Krozian <<a href="mailto:kevork@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">kevork@edulists.com.au</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Hi Mark,</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I do have to agree with you. </span><u></u><u></u></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 ? ).</span><u></u><u></u></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”. </span><u></u><u></u></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. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></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. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Kevork Krozian</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Edulists Creator Administrator</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.edulists.com.au" target="_blank">www.edulists.com.au</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">tel: <a href="tel:0419%20356%20034" target="_blank">0419 356 034</a></span><u></u><u></u></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm"><p class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US"> <a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <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</span><u></u><u></u></p></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></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. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></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. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></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.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><img src="cid:image001.png@01CD333F.62AF3C20" alt="Description: signiture" border="0" height="86" width="194"></span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">"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 style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">Joyce Cary.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">Michael Wooldridge</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4f6228" lang="EN-US">Information Technology Coordinator</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">Mornington Secondary College</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">1051 Nepean Highway, Mornington 3931</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">(</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">: <a href="tel:03%2059700250" target="_blank">03 59700250</a> </span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Wingdings 2";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">6</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">: <a href="tel:03%2059700299" target="_blank">03 59700299</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:mwo@mornsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">mwo@mornsc.vic.edu.au</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US"> <a href="mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> <a href="mailto:[mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]" target="_blank">[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</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></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" target="_blank">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...<span style="color:#888888"><br><br><span>-- </span><br><span>Mark Kelly</span><br><span>Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area</span><br>
<span>McKinnon Secondary College</span><br><span>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia</span><br><span>Direct line / Voicemail: <a href="tel:%2B613%208520%209085" target="_blank">+613 8520 9085</a>, Fax <a href="tel:%2B613%209578%209253" target="_blank">+613 9578 9253</a></span><br>
<span><a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a> (don't use my Edumail account!)</span><br><span>VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a></span><br>
<span>Moderator: IT Applications Edulist</span><br><br><span>--</span><br><span>An E-flat, a C, and a G go into a bar. The bartender says, "I'm sorry, but I can't serve minors."</span></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div></div><br clear="all"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><br>-- <br>Mark Kelly<br><br clear="all"></p></div></div></blockquote></div><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."<br>
<br><br>