Files and links will be posted on Google Classroom. I will email you a code (or you can email me at bradley.knockel@aps.edu for the code)!
Reminders and other communication will be posted on Remind. To get access to our Remind, a code will be posted on Google Classroom. You can enter the code directly into your account via the Remind app or website.
Except for the first day, when we will meet in my classroom (room 208), class will meet in Tech 6 (TE-6), a computer lab, the most northwest class on campus: https://sandia.aps.edu/map
Most of your assignments will be done through Project STEM, https://projectstem.org/. You can sign into Project STEM using your APS Google account. Once reach your Student Dashboard, you will enter our section token found on Google Classroom. Project STEM contains most of our content in the form of slides and videos, and you may choose to work ahead.
Welcome to AP Computer Science A!
We have two main goals in this course: AP exam and computational thinking.
This course is designed to prepare you for the AP CS A test. Almost all colleges accept a high-enough score on this test as college credit for a CS-for-CS-majors college course. While the test costs around $100 (much cheaper if you apply for then get free-and-reduced-price-meal status), doing well on it saves effort and money in the future in college. In college, you can then jump right into various more interesting computer classes that first require you to take this introductory course. Even if you are not intending to major in CS, programming skills are very important in nearly all fields of STEM!
The AP test is optional, but preparing for it is not. Our course's final exam will be based on an AP test. You will have taken a college course by the end of the year! Regardless of whether or not you take the AP test, you will understand CS well enough to prepare you for any other STEM courses you will take in college.
I highly recommend that you sign up for the AP test if you can afford it and if you feel there is any chance of doing well. If you want to take it and cannot afford it, let me know so that we may find a way for you to take it. No one knows the future, and getting this college credit may make your future more enjoyable. Perhaps a more important reason to sign up is that intending on taking the test can provide motivation to work hard in our CS class! If you do poorly, this can motivate you to do better with CS and tests in the future because just trying on an AP exam is an accomplishment to be proud of! Regarding college admissions, most colleges say that AP scores can only help you, not hurt you, so sign up! Also, you can choose to cancel any scores before they are sent to colleges (for free!).
If you really want to understand CS, take AP CS A to grow your brain in high school, take the AP test to push yourself to learn as much as you can, then take CS again in college! This will give you a very strong foundation in CS because humans always learn more from taking a class again, especially taking a class from a different teacher. At the very least, taking the class again in college will be an easy good grade!
Now that I have gotten you a bit nervous (hopefully not too nervous!), let's put the test out of our minds and think about computer science.
My real goal is for everyone to learn computational thinking, which is basically being able to understand how a computer "thinks". I want us to be able to use computers to successfully solve problems in the real world, and computational thinking is the first step to this. However, to do this, we will first spend much time learning what a computer is and what it can do. With computation thinking, we can develop any computer system and/or code by just doing research and thinking.
In the spring, we will work on the Internal Assessment (IA). This will be a computer project where you design a solution to a real problem for a client.
For me, the best part of computer science is learning a language like Java, HTML5, Python 3, MySQL, etc. to actually do something. We and the AP exam will use a programming language called Java, and you may choose to use anything such as JavaScript for your IA, but the language itself is not important. Languages come and go. The language is a means to an end, and keep in mind that learning another programming language is much easier if you already know one or two.
To fully participate, you must bring earbuds (or headphones). This will allow you to listen to videos without distracting others.
Everything else will be online: Project STEM, Google Docs, Google Classroom, AP Classroom, etc.
Project STEM even share a free online textbook with you: https://math.hws.edu/javanotes/
Coding is hard because it takes a lot of practice! My primary expectation is that you will meet the challenge. I strongly believe that you can understand and do coding.
Respect each other regardless of differences. We will have fun, but never at another's expense.
No cellphones (unless first given permission). If you are expecting an important call or text, the mature behavior is to communicate that to me before class!
No cheating on assignments or tests. First offense is typically a warning, though I reserve the right to give a zero. Next offense is notifying parents (or administration if parents cannot be reached). By the way, the appearance of cheating is enough to be considered cheating, so be mindful of your gaze, head attire, where you place your test on table, phone location, backpack location, etc.
Orderly usage of hall pass. One student at a time and not when I'm speaking to the entire class. Take the hall pass and sign in and out of class. Also, sign in if tardy.
Distracting class is rude to your fellow students. Disruptive behavior tells me that you are trying to communicate to me that you are confused or need more of my attention!
Thank you for helping make our class enjoyable and effective!
The course grade for each semester will be (1) Project STEM for 60%, (2) a "lab" grade for 20%, and (3) a final exam for 20%. Project STEM's grade is mostly tests.
The "lab" grade is taking notes (perhaps on Google Docs, though your IB classmates must have them be handwritten), doing Project STEM labs, doing AP Classroom assignments, or, in the fall, the IA. For the "lab" grade, you will have freedom to decide what you want to do, and your choice will likely be affected by whether you will be taking the AP exam. As long as you work very hard at something (or less hard on each of a couple things), your "lab" grade will be good.
Which of these grades is the most important? Is it the test grades? Sort of. But without fully participating in class, how can you do well on the tests?
If you miss class, ask a classmate what we did. If you have questions, please communicate with me to see what else you need to do. Falling behind is not wise because catching up is much more difficult than doing timely work. If you do not have homework done when you return and you were in class when the homework was assigned, I reserve the right to give you half or no credit.
You will not be allowed a calculator or notes on Project STEM tests because these are not allowed on the AP CS A exam. However, I recommend that you write a page of notes as if you could use it on the test! As you study, put the things that you don't think you can remember on the page, then study the page. In fact, I might require that you make this page in addition to a visual depiction of all the material that will be on the test. You will learn a lot as you carefully decide what to put on your note sheet (and decide where to put it).
You will be allowed scratch paper on tests because you can write in the margins of the AP exam booklet.
Grading scale...
A (90% or above): advanced proficient
B (80% to 89.9%): proficient
C (70% to 79.9%): nearing proficient
D (60% to 69.9%): not proficient
F (below 60%): incomplete
Communicating with me regarding your grade is welcome! However, doing this at the end of the semester is far too late, regardless of pleading and excuses.
Your classmates are a resource! Ask your group questions during class. Call/text each other if you cannot figure something out or if you missed class! Getting connected is an important part of caring about your success! Working together is encouraged, but be sure that your goal is to understand the material rather than just copying the answer.
I am a resource! At any time, during or after class, ask a question! I am sure that many other people are confused about whatever question you have, so ask it. I will happily provide tutoring after school (or maybe during lunch), so just talk with me! I can also help you with study skills if you are feeling stressed.
The Internet is a resource! Just Google anything, and you can find YouTube videos and other help. If you find something useful on the Internet, please share it with me and the class!