Is this even a choice in most curricula? Most I've seen say 'functions' with a smattering of 'procedures' here and there. Granted, these are US-heavy. #csed #teamCompSci - ThreadSky

ciphersoup.bsky.social • 53 days ago

Is this even a choice in most curricula? Most I've seen say 'functions' with a smattering of 'procedures' here and there. Granted, these are US-heavy. #csed #teamCompSci

Reposted from Andy Colley

3/n - Language

Be super careful about your language. Call them sub-programs/subroutines or whatever fits your curriculum. BUT - procedures and functions are TYPES of sub-program and should be introduced as such.

#TeamCompSci #CASchat #CSed #CSK8 #CSScot

Comments

mracolley.bsky.social•53 days ago

Most UK GCSE specifications specify the differences to be taught. Even if they didn't, we should be accurate with our language to avoid building in misconceptions for later on.

ciphersoup.bsky.social•53 days ago

CSTA Level 2 (KS3) mentions both but doesn't have quite that level of specificity, and Level 3A (KS4) only mentions procedures. The standards don't mention 'subprograms' or 'subroutines' at all. I'm not saying we shouldn't differentiate, but our available resources in the US don't.

advanced-ict.info•52 days ago

I don't think I'd heard anyone use the word "subprograms" before I started teaching the GCSE. I assumed it was a term they introduced to be able to ask students to name functions/procedures without giving them the answer - like talking about "translators" when asking about compilers/interpreters.

mracolley.bsky.social•51 days ago

I started learning how to program with Java (because that's the language my HOD used). So everything was called a method, and I didn't learn why until much later.

advanced-ict.info•51 days ago

That's the tricky thing about Python, I think - some things are methods, e.g. list.append(), and some things are functions, e.g. len(list), apparently at random!

stephengruppetta.com•51 days ago

Not random. There’s a reason for those choices. Now, some may disagree with the reasons, but the reasons are key to how Python works

mracolley.bsky.social•53 days ago

I suppose we could just call them all sub programs/subroutines - some return a value, some don't.

mracolley.bsky.social•53 days ago

But if your spec says 'procedures' then has examples with return values then that's inaccurate use of language and can build in misunderstandings.

ciphersoup.bsky.social•53 days ago

This is from the AP CS Principles framework, which specifies a national curriculum that allows for university credit across the country.

mracolley.bsky.social•53 days ago

So a completely different definition to the one we use. Even more than that, it contradicts ours! 🤦‍♂️

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply