From: "Peña, Botp" <botp@...>
Date: 2002-12-09T09:36:20+09:00
Subject: Re: Newbie tutorial - if statements

Hi sir Daniel (aka Daniel Carrera [mailto:dcarrera@math.umd.edu]):

You asked last Sunday, December 08, 2002 3:55 AM:
> 
> I need an opinion for my tutorial.  I'm trying to figure out 
> the easiest way to teach if statements.  I don't know if I 
> should teach them with the "then" part or not.
> 
> if cond then
>    ...
> end
> 
> or
> 
> if cond
>    ...
> end
> 
> On the one hand, "then" makes it sound more like English.  On 
> the other, it's one more thing the student feels (s)he has to 
> remember.
> 
> Any opinions?

I am a ruby newbie but I've taught newbie children too (but not ruby).

The hurdle is actually explaining the if-end block. Once you get pass that,
you just then say "actually you can put a 'then', but that is not necessary
since the 'computer' knows what you're trying to mean.. then pause to let
the student think :-))". Btw, you do have to mention the "then" part to the
student, since (un)conciously you'll notice that you always state the "then"
word to the student while explaining if-structures...

> 
> Daniel.
> 

kind regards,
-botp