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educator's point of view, this kind of questions encourages them to scrutinize the
learned concepts, to reflect on what they learned, and, by doing so, also to evaluate
their own understanding. In addition, the design of the questions is a kind of active
learning that encourages creativity.
9.2.11
Type11. Programming Style Questions
Description : Learners are asked to examine the programming style of different so-
lutions presented for the same task.
Example of a general pattern : Look at the given collection of correct solutions
for a given problem. Examine the solutions and state which of them, in your opin-
ion, is the best solution. Explain your choice.
Variations : The different solutions for the given problem can differ in one or
more aspect(s), according to the teacher decision, such as (a) different kind of loops;
(b) the need to use an array for the solution; (c) different algorithmic approaches
(e.g., given two correct solutions to a given problem, the learners should decide
which one is a better solution and explain why). If the teacher decides to integrate in
the question several aspects, the different aspects can be presented explicitly in the
question when learners are asked to analyze the solutions according to each aspect.
Discussion : This type of question enables to foster a discussion about different
aspects of programming style, which in turn increases learners' awareness to these
aspects.
9.2.12
Type12. Transformation of a Solution
Description : A problem and its solution are presented to the learners in a specific
programming approach, programming language, or programming paradigm. The
learners' task is to transform the solution into a different programming approach, a
different programming language, or a different programming paradigm.
Example of a general pattern1 : The presented loop is implemented by a while
loop. Implement it by a for loop.
Example of a general pattern2 : The method presented is implemented by a while
loop. Implement it by a recursive method that achieves the same target.
Example of a general pattern3 : The following method sorts an array of integers
in the imperative programming paradigm. Implement it in the functional program-
ming paradigm.
Variations : The different transformations presented in this kind of questions can
be (a) between programming paradigms (as in Example of a general pattern3). This
variation can be carried out only after the two said programming paradigms were
learned; (b) within the same programming paradigm but between programming lan-
guages; (c) within the same programming language but between structures (as in the
example of general pattern1 or, for example, from a nested if statement to switch-
case statement); (d) within the same programming language but between different
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