Uses of selection in programming (if, switch etc)

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I am an experienced programmer that has just started teaching. I am struggling to see how to introduce selection to my programming classes. None of the examples that I have seen so far are good.

I am struggling to find examples other than the ones below. (These are more advanced than I need.)

• Termination condition for recursion (We don't do recursion until upper years of school, exams do not need it).

• Input validation (Again the exams say don't worry about checking input (I think this is a mistake, as it leads to cowboy programmers)).

Both of these are only in the syllabus from UK year 12. I am teaching from UK year 7.

Can you help with good examples, and exercises that my younger pupils can use?

year 7 is age 11-12 year 12 is age 16-17

manpreet 2 years ago

    if (hungry)
        System.out.println("Eat a sandwich.");

    if (age > 17)
        System.out.println("You can vote.");
    else
        System.out.println("You cannot vote.");

    switch(choice) {
    case 0:
        System.out.println("Balance Inquiry.");
        break;
    case 1:
        System.out.println("Transfer");
        break;
    case 2:
        System.out.println("Withdrawal");
        break;  
    case 3:
        System.out.println("Deposit");
        break;          
    default:
        System.out.println("Quit");
        break;          
    }