Chapter 3 Reflection

1. Naming Variables and Constants Do you know what they are?

Yes they are symbols or words that stand for a certain other value.

2. Declaring and initializing variables and constants

I learned about the use of Dim as Integer and other forms of declaring and initializing variables and constants.

3. User input Are you comfortable with how your write code to get input from the user?

Yes, you always need a label that prompts them with a question or a command, and then somewhere where they can input, like a Text Box or radio buttons they can select.

4. VB keywords Do you understand the importance of knowing them especially when naming things such as variables?

Yes, like inputting “lbl” so you know you’re working with a label or “btn” for a button.

5. Recognizing syntax and logic errors_Are you getting comfortable with correcting your code?

Definitely- VB makes it really easy when they list the errors in your code, but sometimes there might not be an obvious error. The code itself might work in practice, but not in the way that you want it to.

6. What challenged you/what still confuses you?

There were a lot of new concepts that we faced this unit, and working through the formatting and language of the code was most difficult.

7. What are you confident understanding and doing in this unit?

I am confident in my understanding of the theory: I completely get variables and constants and calculations, but like I said above it’s the application that still trips me up a little.

Human Trafficking Assembly Response

The assembly was incredibly powerful, and I’m happy that we went. I’d been to other human trafficking assemblies in previous years, though all of them focused on some aspect of female trafficking, without much mention of the LBGTQ+ community, so I was curious as to whether or not there are outstanding differences between the groups. What I found particularly interesting are the varying motivations for partaking in trafficking and then remaining in it- while women generally stay with their pimps for love and a feeling of safety, LGBTQ+ people are usually young adults who either want to belong or feel a need to rebel against the forces that oppress them due to their sexuality (generally their family). I could not believe the story of the man who was forced to turn to survival sex just for a place to stay. I also appreciated that men, though queer, were mentioned in the presentation. Though human trafficking overwhelmingly affects females, I am sure there is a male victim side that is overlooked, like with domestic abuse.

Chapter 2 Reflection

Ola Soltan

Chapter 2 Reflection

1.       The Visual Basic Environment in Microsoft Visual Studio: What did you struggle with?  What have you learned about the environment? How does this environment compare to other programming languages you have explored?

The thing that really tripped me up in this chapter was remembering to not just modify the text displayed in labels, buttons, etc., but also remembering to name the elements themselves. I did not realize I had to change “Label1” to “lblQuestion” or “lblAnswer” or whatever, and so when I went to write the actual code and I tried to add a value to “lblAnswer”, it did not come up as an element and it took me a while to realize that I had to ‘create’ it. Despite this trip up, this environment seems easier than some other programs I’ve looked at, like C, but definitely more challenging than SmallBasic or Scratch from last year.

2.      Running, compiling and saving programs.   How comfortable are you with the process?  Is your routine established so that you have saved to the lab students drive as well as the C drive?

This is super easy and I’m definitely comfortable with the process- I also put in so much work into my programs that I’m often saving more than I need to just in case!

3.      Displaying and formatting output:  How confident are you that you can write code to produce output precisely using the concepts covered?

I am fairly confident I can produce output precisely, though I do sometimes have trouble with new exercises and new concepts where I forget basic old ones, and have to go back to previous programs to see how I did something and build off of that.

4.      Coding conventions: Are you clear on naming conventions as well as when you need to put comments in your code?

I’m clear on naming conventions, though not so sure about comments. I put a comment whenever an integer is set, and I suspect I should have comments about the date, my name, and the program, but I’m not sure if there’s anything else.

5. Radio Buttons, button, label control

All of these elements are easy to understand and manipulate, and I know how they work (basically).

5.      Challenges you had while getting used to the VB programming environment this week?

Like I said, mainly difficulties with understanding the properties and what each part stands for (text is for text displayed inside an element, while name is the name that the element is referred to by in the code, etc.)