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ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES

 

  

COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (AP)

Grades 10-11-12

5 Credits
Pre-requisite: HN/CP Computer Science/Engineering and teacher recommendation or permission of the Department Supervisor.

Preferred computer science sequence is HN Computer Science/Engineering, AP Java, AP Principles

This is an advanced placement computer science course for college bound students. Unlike a traditional programming class, this course is more analytical and focuses on the impact of computer science and technology in our everyday lives. The material covered in this course includes units on the internet, digital information, procedural based programming (Java Script), big data & privacy, and app development (Java Script with code.org’s App Lab). Students will be challenged to understand the technologies of today’s world, identifying how technology is making the world a better place but also identifying new concerns and challenges that technology is bringing forth. Researching, writing, and critical thinking are all key elements of the course. The class will use code.org’s AP Computer Science Principles curriculum. Students are required to take the AP exam. At the university level, this course typically maps to an introductory technology course for the non-Computer Science majors.

 

For this course we will be using many of the components of the code.org CSP Curriculum. Together we will set-up your code.org account and get you connected to our classroom!
 

Course Policies

Late Work - All assignment due dates and times will be posted in Google Classroom. These are not flexible deadlines. There will be a 10% late penalty for work submitted within 24 hours of the due date, and a 20% late penalty for work that falls within 48 hours of the deadline. This includes days in the rotations on which we don't meet and days off from school (holidays/weekends). Anything work submitted after 48 hours will receive an 0. 

 

Absences - If you are absent from school you will have 48 hours to submit your make up work for full credit. Some assignments you might be exempt from but that will be the teacher's discretion. Any missed exams must be made up within 2 days of your return (Classroom time is not used to make up exams).

 

Written Assignments - Rubrics will be used to grade written assignments. Grammar and well written work is expected. 

 

Programming Projects - Rubrics will be used to grade programming projects. The use of concepts not covered in class will lead to a zero grade. Several graded programming projects will be hand written.

 

AP Computer Science Principles Topics
Unit 1: Digital Information
Unit 2: The Internet
Unit 3: Intro to App Design
Unit 4: Variables, Conditionals, and Functions
Unit 5: Lists, Loops, and Traversals
Unit 6: Algorithms
Unit 7: Parameters, Return, and Libraries
Unit 8: Create PT Practice
Unit 9: Data
Unit 10: Cybersecurity and Global Impacts
AP Performance Task
 
AP Computer Science Principles - How is it different from AP CS (Java)
  • Focus is on Computer Science Concepts, NOT just programming
  • More reflection and writing 
  • Connection to Current Events

 

AP Exam:

Create Task (30% of AP Score): Create program of your choice with partner, however, must clearly identify code each person was responsible for. Provide screen shot of code, a video of your program running, and individual written responses to prompts. (in class-12 hours)

AP Exam (70% of AP Score): 70 Multiple Choice Questions (Single Select and Multiple Select)

 

Grading System

Assessments/Projects

70%

Classwork/Homework

30%
   

Total Grade

100%
 
 

Important Links

https://code.org

https://myap.collegeboard.org/login

https://runestone.academy/ns/books/published/csawesome/index.html