Unit 7

Unit Overview

From the APCSP course description:

"The way a computer represents data internally is different from the way the data are interpreted and displayed for the user. Programs are used to translate data into a representation more easily understood by people."

Unit 4 will focus on Data Representation.  Students will explore how data can be represented using bits.  They will begin with the binary concept of a bit and will learn to convert binary values to decimal values and vice versa.  Students will gain an understanding of some of the abstractions in computing including, but not limited to, numbers, characters and color.  Students will also examine compression techniques and the trade-offs resulting from each.

This unit of study will answer the following questions:

1. How is data represented using bits?

2. What are the consequences of using bits to represent data?

3. How do we convert a binary number to a positive decimal (base 10) number and vice versa?

4. How do we compare and order binary numbers?

5. What are data compression algorithms?  How do we evaluate the best compression algorithm to fit our needs?

ARC challenge #4 is a Data Analysis project that spans both Unit 4 (Data Representation)  and Unit 5 (Big Data).  A Big Data Analytics firms has hired the students to investigate & analyze  an industry concern.  Students will determine the concern, write questions that need to be answered, identify needed data points, design & collect real life data and then analyze the results.  Students will visually present findings and interpretations of the data as well as address concerns that arise with the collection of their data ( privacy, storage, security). The project will combine designing, collecting, filtering, cleaning and analyzing the collected data.  It should be started during  unit 4 and will be completed at the end of the semester for the semester showcase.

Unit Sections

• Section 7.0.0 Unit Standards

• Section 7.0.1 Prepare for Implementation

• Section 7.1 Delve Into Hardware

• Section 7.2 Unit 4 Vocabulary

• Section 7.3 Bits and Bytes

• Section 7.4 Binary Conversions

• Section 7.5 Using Bits to Represent Numbers

• Section 7.6 Class Data Collection

• Section 7.7 Using Bits to Represent Characters

• Section 7.8 Using Bits to Represent Images and Colors

• Section 7.9 Compare Analog and Digital Data

• Section 7.10 Analyze Compression Techniques

• Section 7.11 Analyze Innovation Data Collection

• Section 7.12 Introduction of ARC Challenge #4 and Sprint #1