Student "edition" found at {csi dot journalspace dot com}.

Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

My second session with my Assembly Language class was actually the first lecture.

Just like last term, I started with the one sample program that already gave both input and output commands, as well as some non-mathematical operations. For some of the more confusing concepts (for my earlier students, not for me) such as conversion from ASCII value to dacimal before operation, I warned the students that the previous class was not able to get them - immediately.

It was actually a challenge for them to comprehend faster than the other class.

Afterwards, instead of making them come up with their first exercise from scratch (almost) instead I had them make their first execution table based on the first sample program, for some given initial value.

Yes, it was tedious and bloody, and they took the entire three hour lab period for it, but now I'm sure they won't be floundering when I give them an execution table type question in the exam.

And considering that these are supposed to be the first tier students of their batch, it was surprising that they said they understood the lecture beforehand, but had to be given further examples of the uses of some commands (such as those that affect or use the carry flag) when applying them already.

There were also still some questions on what the difference between ASCII values and decimal (for computational purposes) values were.

I guess that means I will be giving them more of these types of exercises to determine just how well they understand the commands.

I also already warned them that the exams will be open notes but not open PCs, so this early they had better start getting print outs or photocopies of the sample programs (as well as their own answers to the exercises) to have a comprehensive library to look through during our tests. I started with my own copy of the sample program we used, which I allowed them to reproduce so that they could also make their execution table using the computer's spreadsheet software.

Session 1817 should not stay silent anymore when the teacher asks if there are any questions. Class dismissed.