The goals of this course are comparable to a first-year college course in computer science. The course is intended to serve both as an introductory course for computer science majors and as a substantial course for those who will major in other disciplines that require significant involvement with computing. The topics covered will be those set by the Advanced Placement Course Description for Computer Science. Students who successfully complete this course usually elect to take the Advanced Placement examination in Computer Science at the A or AB level. AP Computer Science will be taught using the programming language Java.
Course Goals
- Students should be able to design and implement computer-based solutions to problems in a variety of application areas.
- Students should be able to use and implement commonly-used algorithms and data structures.
- Students should be able to develop and select appropriate algorithms and data structures to solve problems.
- Students should be able to code fluently in an object-oriented paradigm using the programming language Java. Students are expected to be familiar with and be able to use standard Java library classes from the AP Java subset.
- Students should be able to read and understand a large program consisting of several classes and interacting objects. Students should be able to read and understand a description of the design and development process leading to such a program. (An example of such a program is the AP Computer Science Case Study.)
- Students should be able to identify the major hardware and software components of a computer system, their relationship to one another, and the roles of these components within the system.
- Students should be able to recognize the ethical and social implications of computer use.
Grading Policy
Programming assignments are one form of assessment in this course. This is your opportunity to familiarize yourself with new material. For each programming assignment you are required to submit electronically your program code on or before the given due-date. Scoring of programming assignments, and submission directions are detailed in a separate document.
Written tests and quizzes will occur approximately 3-4 times per quarter. Tests will contain both multiple choice and free response type coding questions. Tests are specifically designed in the AP style to prepare you for the exam in May. They will be announced at least 48 hours in advance. Additional time allowances on tests shall be 1.5x the given time unless specified.
Homework will occur in the form of written exercises and worksheets. These assignments will be on topics discussed in class, and not require a computer therefore they must be submitted at the beginning of class, on the assigned due date, unless there is a valid excuse. All homework assignments are to be hand written.
Each quarter, tests, quizzes will be approximately 40% of the grade, programming assignments will be 40% of the grade, and homework exercises will be approximately 20% of the grade. Exact quarter percentages may change based on the number and type of assignments given each quarter.
Classroom Policies
All school policies apply to the classroom. In addition, No food or drinks are to be brought into the computer lab.
Consideration for others and behavior in accordance with the rules of the school must guide personal conduct in both the classroom and the computer lab. In particular, violation of computer usage guidelines may result in loss of computer privileges. Note also that credit is given only for a student's own work. Work handed in that is not the students own work will earn a zero for all involved.
Each student is assigned a computer account through the school, and they are held responsible for any activity that occurs under their account.
