I thought this was initialization:
int num[] = {1, 2, 3, 4};
and this:
int num[4];
for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++i)
num[i] = i;
represented serial assignment.
Furthermore I think that either the instructor, the OP, or I (and I don't think it's me this time) don't know the difference between iniatialization of the elements of an array and assignment to the elements of an array and use the two concepts interchangeably, as they can end up with the same result.