Computer Science Essentials
Course Number: 808A/808B
Open to grades 9 and 10
Prerequisite: None
Two Quarters - 1 Credit
Credit Group: Elective
Project Lead the Way
Project Lead the Way
The curriculum used for this course has been developed by Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Students who successfully complete this course may receive college credit(s) depending on the score received on the final exam and the school they are attending after graduation.
Computer Science Essentials is designed to be the first computer science course for students who have never programmed before, and as an optional starting point for the PLTW Computer Science program. Students work individually and in teams to create apps for mobile devices using MIT App Inventor, Vex Studio, and Python. They also explore the impact of computing in society, along with building skills in digital citizenship and cybersecurity. Beyond learning the fundamentals of programming, students also build computational thinking skills by applying computer science to collaboration tools, modeling and simulation, and data analysis. Students transfer the understanding of programming gained in App Inventor to text-based programming in Python, and apply their knowledge to create algorithms for games of chance and strategy.