Re: Where is the elusive jump command?

[Dale Stanbrough <dale@cs.rmit.edu.au>]

Robert A Duff wrote:

" But Matt clearly stated that he
  doesn't *care* whether the program is readable or not, but I didn't see
  much mention of that, which seems like the more important issue.  How
  does one learn that readable=Good, other than from the School of Hard
  Knocks?"


You can only learn it by teaching it (for most students, some can
independently arrive at this conclusion). You can either let the
individual learn it themselves in the workplace ("the School of Hard
Knocks") or you can teach it at uni.

The latter is preferable, and is what I do. I try to structure 
assignments so that students have to revise their own work.

For example I currently have a project to program a Gantt chart -
i've issued the requirements, and they a number of months to get
it written up. -Then- they'll have to deal with the change of 
requirements which will be issued in August. I've done this in the
past and found it quite succesfull (at least from conversations
that I've had with students).


Dale