About CS

About CS

Thanks for visiting Mrs. Kostecki's website.  Here you can learn what students do in Computer Science Class at Disney.

In this class there are three main threads:  digital literacy and citizenship, computer science, and arts integration.  

• Digital Literacy and Citizenship consists of learning how to effectively use essential software and hardware, as well as how to do this safely, respectfully and responsibly.  For example, usually at the beginning of the year we will complete a learning unit focused on questions such as "how do you respond when you see bullying online?", "how do you maintain your privacy when you use technology," or "how can social media be used responsibly?". Recently AI literacy has become a part of this as well! "What is Artifical Intelligence?", "how does AI learn?" and "how can we use AI responsibly" are some of the questions we might tackle.

• Computer Science asks questions such as "how do computers think and work, how do computers and humans interact, and how do we create technology that does new things?"  In addition to learning coding languages such as Scratch, Python or p5.js (JavaScript), students are challenged to create and code projects related to their personal interests, whether it be video games, interactive art, music, or animations.  Students learn and follow a design process, and are also asked to evaluate their own work, the work of their peers, as well as the work of professionals, and identify how it met its goals and how the work could be improved.

• Arts Integration - Since modern computers are highly visual and auditory machines, coding, art and design really go hand in hand, but because Disney is a Fine and Performing Arts school special effort is made to actively and intentionally integrate the arts on a regular basis.  Examples include: students learn about color theories and schemes and integrate those ideas as they design a video game; students learn about the expressive intent of different styles of music and choose (or create) music ​for a digital presentation or video game that fits the intention or genre of their work; students use dramatic voice acting when creating and coding an animation; students are introduced to modern abstract art works and then use p5.js code to create art of a similar style that expresses an idea they are interested in.

In addition to this curriculum, activities in class always strive to build students' capacity for communication, collaboration, critical thinking and above all CREATIVITY. 

Feel free to reach out to me at aakostecki@cps.edu for more information.