On Sat, Dec 18, 2004 at 04:39:55PM +0100, Morgan Olsson wrote:
- Byron A Jeff 14:56 2004-12-18:
- >On Sat, Dec 18, 2004 at 01:32:16PM -0000, Richard Benfield wrote:
- >> But what wrong with teaching a structured BASIC ? just don't mention goto 
- >> and gosub.
- >
- >Nothing. But when talking about BASIC, the structured variety is rarely
- >what is referred to. BASIC with structure, local variables, predefined 
- >variables and parameters, is no different than Pascal, Python, or at a
- >fundamental level C.
- 
- Whatever you call it...

- Anyway, with most Basic packages you can do both the linenumber and
-GOTO-GOSUB style, and the structured style.  -

- I think this is an advantage or teaching as it can be used to show the
- differences in programming method, and a good starting point to get pupils
- interested in differen tlanguages, and what they are good for.


In the beginning you don't want to show differences in programming method.

In the beginning you want to show students the right way to do it.

People tend to latch on to whatever they see first. So teach them the
right way first.

- 
- You can give a short example
- 10 LET a=0
- 20 PRINT a
- 30 LET a=a+1
- 40 GOTO 20
- 
- And most pupils will follow.

I would NEVER give this example to beginning programmers. This is the type
of code that I'm railing about.

- Then discuss how many lines a normal program have, and how would the
- programmer remember all gotos?

Learning how to program is confusing enough. Don't complicate it by presenting
alternatives.


- 
- Then make an example of structured program :)

I'd only do an example of a structured program. Let new students learn the
right way first, then you can explore other options.

The 4 line example above is exactly why I wouldn't teach BASIC to new
students. Of course this is an age old argument.

BAJ
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