Course title
AP Computer Science Principles HPre-requisite
Computer Programming & Technology or Algebra I and additional math course passed at 80% or betterCourse description
AP Computer Science Principles is designed to be equivalent to a first-semester introductory college computing course. In this course; students will develop computational thinking skills vital for success across all disciplines. This course is designed to foster student creativity. Students are encouraged to apply creative processes when developing computational artifacts and to think creatively while using computer software and other technology to explore their interests. They will develop effective communication and collaboration skills; working individually and collaboratively to solve problems; and discussing and writing about the importance of these problems and the impacts to their community; society and the world.
The methodologies described herein for the course are learned through class discussion; small group projects; development of concept ideas through deconstructionism (the process of learning concepts by examining a completed product); individual and small group presentations; computer science specific games; writing problems; predicting program segment outcomes; verifying program correctness; and other activities.
The curriculum for this course is directly aligned to the College Board Advanced Placement course topics and guidelines.
Curriculum Components and Abbreviations:
The course is based on the College Board’s AP Computer Science Principles Curriculum Framework (CF) 2016 – 1017. Each Big Idea has enduring understandings with learning objectives and essential knowledge for student understanding. The course is focused around seven big ideas:
Big Idea 1: Creativity – computing is a creative activity.
Big Idea 2: Abstraction – abstraction reduces information and detail to facilitate focus on relevant concepts.
Big Idea 3: Data and Information – data and information facilitate creation of knowledge.
Big Idea 4: Algorithms – algorithms are used to develop and express solutions to computational problems.
Big Idea 5: Programming – programming enables problem solving; human expression and creation of knowledge.
Big Idea 6: Internet – the internet pervades modern computing.
Big Idea 7: Global Impact – computing has global impact.
Each of the ideas is paired with one or more of the following Computational Thinking practices (these are referred to as P1; P2; etc.).
P1: Connecting Computing
P2: Creating Computational Artifacts
P3: Abstracting
P4: Analyzing Problems and Artifacts
P5: Communicating (both orally and written)
P6: Collaborating
Total Course time: 18 – 19 weeks
Total classroom time: 90 minutes/class every day
School Country
United StatesSchool state
ArizonaSchool city
GlendaleSchool Address
6330 W. Thunderbird Rd.School zip code
85308Requested competency code
CTEDate submitted
Approved
YesApproved competency code
- CTE
- Career and technical education