The reason that the format (and content) look familiar is that both were developed by Robin Shoop at CMU. Robin has ties to FIRST going all the way back to the second year of Team 117. He was one of the first to work with IFI and the early EDUrobotics kits to develop targeted educational materials, and is continuing to work with them as VEX comes out. His programming modules were initially developed as part of the
NREC "summer robotics camps" and have gradually matured to the "C" tutorials that you see now. If you like his stuff, then let him know next time you see him.
-dave