TEACHING COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AT A DISTANCE
HOME :: DISCUSSIONS :: ANIMATIONS :: SYNCHRONOUS :: REFERENCES
.::discussion examples:. << back

      The following includes two simple examples of how one would respond to discussion board questions in a computer programming class online.  The first example is an explicit question related to the programming assignment.  This student is seeking clarification about the specifications.

Example 1

      Student:

      Professor,

      The requirement for Total Tax states: the summation of all the amounts applied       to all the future values. This seems pretty clear, but just to be sure I have             restated what I think I know.   Each future value is calculated under the               ButtonAddAmount_Click, then accumulated so they can be used to calculate         the Total Tax in the ButtonCalculate_click.

      Is this correct?

      Thanks,
      Some Student

      Professor Response:

      Some Student,

      Yes, it should be calculated where the program uses the loop to traverse the         list boxes.  Since the principals above $1000 should be taxed at 1.5 times the         original rate, you have to use an if statement (in the loop) to determine which       tax rate should be applied.

      Cheers,
      Professor
      
      In this simple example, the professor provides the student a direct answer because of the nature of the question.  The student was not seeking a programming solution, but rather a clarification of the assignment specifications.  In this next example, the student asks specifically for a programming solution to the assignment.  In response, the student is provided an example referencing the parallel program provided.

Example 2

      Student:

      Professor,

      One of the requirements for the assignment reads: "Determine which future            value calculation to apply using a Select-Case statement".  The "Case" part is          fairly easy, but the test portion of the Selection does not seem as simple. My          solution was to declare a variable before the first procedure and then set that       variable in a Check_Changed event for each radio-button. Then I use a                  Select-Case based on the value of the variable.  Anybody know a simpler way?       For some reason this method seems like the 'long way around'.

      Thanks,
      Some Student

      Professor Response:

      Some Student,

      Refer to the example program and you will see the following syntax:

      Select Case True
            Case RadioButton1.Checked
                MessageBox.Show("1 is checked")
            Case RadioButton2.Checked
                MessageBox.Show("2 is checked")
            Case RadioButton3.Checked
                MessageBox.Show("3 is checked")
      End Select

      This is how you use the Select Case statement with radio buttons. 

      Cheers,
      Albert

      In this example, the student was asking for a specific solution.  Rather than provide the exact syntax, the instructor refers to the example program's syntax to communicate the requirements.


© Albert Ritzhaupt 2006