Avoiding Newspeak

1
Avoiding Newspeak

• Michael Jones
• Bournemouth University

2
The Scenario

• First year Computing unit
• 20 credits
• Runs throughout the academic year
• 85 students
• 1 hour lecture 2 hour workshop per group of 15
  students
• Other units include
• Databases
• Web Application Development

3
Newspeak in Programming

• Changing the meaning of something
• Using different meanings simultaneously
• Examples
• Time-based arrays
• Default properties
• Hidden dependencies

4
Finding the sum of 10 numbers

• import java.util.Scanner
• public class Example
• public static void main(String argStrings)?
• throws Exception
• int sum 0
• Scanner keyboard new Scanner(System.in)
• for (int i 0 i lt 10 i)?
• int number keyboard.nextInt()
• sum number
• System.out.println("The sum is " sum)

5
Issues

• More than 30 concepts
• Precision
• Arcane language
• Contextual
• Learners assimilation and retention of concepts

6
Time-based arrays

• Points
• Collection in specification ('numbers') becomes
  singleton ('number') in code
• 'number' re-used because of scoping rules
• 'number' has a different meaning than 'sum' and
  'index'
• 'numbers' is implemented as a time-based array
• Only relevant if only one operation is required
• An advanced example of optimisation
• The meaning is changed depending on the situation
• Hence 'newspeak'

7
Second Issue Default properties

• Specification write a program to read in a list
  of countries the student has visited, and display
  them in alphabetical order
• Question
• Variable name of the collection
• Why is this 'newspeak'?

8
Third issue Hidden dependencies

• Examples
• Import of java.lang
• 'extends Object'
• 'throws Exception'
• Why is this newspeak?

9
An Alternative

• import java.lang.
• public class Example extends Object
• public static void main(String argStrings)?
• throws Exception
• int numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 8, 6, 4, 2, 0
• int sum 0
• for (int index 0 index lt 10 index)?
• sum numbersindex
• System.out.println("The sum is " sum)

10
Another Alternative

• import java.lang.
• import java.util.
• public class Example
• public static void main(String argStrings)?
• throws Exception
• int sum 0
• ArrayListltIntegergt numbers new
  ArrayListltIntegergt()
• Scanner keyboard new Scanner(System.in)
• for (int i 0 i lt 10 i)
• numbers.add(keyboard.nextInt())
• for (int i 0 i lt 10 i)?
• sum numbers.get(i)
• System.out.println("The sum is " sum)

11
Points

• Why 2 loops?
• Fundamental programming 'pattern'
• Linkage with full specification
• Read 10 numbers from the user, and find the sum
  of the numbers

12
Pedagogical Points

• All learning is partial, and inefficient
• Changes in meaning increase the complexity
• Additional features can be on the periphery
• No need to draw attention to them
• Until student asks a question
• Until the concepts are to be covered

13
The experience

• Much more opportunity for reinforcement of the
  relationship between loops and collections
• More space in the programme for different facets
  of programming (graphics, text processing, etc.)?
• More opportunity for students to experiment much
  earlier
• Student response very positive
• Previous SUE 3.5 current SUE 4.3
• Previously 70 completion current 90