Computer Science Summer Work 2024 APCSA & APCSP
How Do You Prepare For Ms. H. Miller's Computer Science Courses?
Welcome to AP Computer Science at Chamblee High
Re: Summer Work for Computer Science Courses APCSA & APCSP
APCSA (Java)
You have several assignments. Read this entire site. Due 1st week of school.
APCSA (Java) is a level 3 pathway course for the State of Georgia. APCSA (Java) is an Object Oriented Programming (OOP) programming course with entrepreneurial, business, and employability skills embedded throughout. As a Level 3 class, you should definitely consider yourself an "employee of CHS Programming Company" and these additional skills make much more sense. APCSA is the harder of the two courses.
In this course, it is expected that you have some combination of the following:
(1) You have a very high interest in learning Java, a text-based object-oriented langauge, with little to no experience at all in programming;
(2)You have a high interest in learning Java, and have done some coding, even with blocks;
(3)You already know Java and want to take the class for the grade bump and possibly the AP Credit.
(4) Can touch-type to at least 30 WPM without looking at the keys for the letters. The touch-typing practice of the top row numbers and all keyboard symbols is highly recommended. ALL Students should be able to touch type at least the letters and shift key. Practice touch-typing here, Practice touch-typing here, or Practice touch-typing here, if you need the review.
You have several things to do before class. Read and complete all tasks on this website. Due within 24 hours of enrolling in this course, or the second day of the semester.
APCSP (Principles)
You have several assignments. Read this entire site. Due 1st week of school.
APCSP is a college-level intro to computer science for non-majors type of course. It is a level 2 pathway course for the State of Georgia. APCSP is designed with equity in mind. You will learn beginning problem-solving, flowcharting, pseudocode, and beginning programming syntax in blocks and/or Python. There are a lot of projects, some are programming-based, while others are topical or skills-based projects. If you have taken CSP (not AP) then you should not take APCSP as both are level 2 courses in the pathways. Consider taking APCSA or PGAS, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Food Science, Health Science, AV/TV-Film, Art, JROTC, or Entrepreneurship Courses.
In this course, it is expected that you have some combination of the following:
(1) You don't need any experience programming;
(2) You have any interest in learning the basics of learning Python (text-based language). We start with blocks;
(3) You already know Python and want to take the class for the grade bump and possibly the AP Credit;
(4) Can touch-type to at least 30 WPM without looking at the keys for the letters. The touch-typing practice of the top row numbers and all keyboard symbols is highly recommended. ALL Students should be able to touch type at least the letters and shift key. Practice touch-typing here, Practice touch-typing here, or Practice touch-typing here, if you need the review.
You have several things to do before class. Read and complete all tasks on this website. Due within 24 hours of enrolling in this course, or the second day of the semester.
Both courses are doable if you work diligently during the school year, and spend time on homework as needed.
The first thing I want you to do over the summer is relax. Recharge your energy reserves. Go on the family vacation, read books for pleasure, watch a few movies, play some video games, or have a few all-nighters playing those RPGs. Whatever you find fun - truly fun - do that! Those things you have to put off until you get a four-day weekend - the summer is your time.
The second thing, read this webpage in its entirety. Understand a few things about both of these Advanced Placement Computer Science courses.
The third thing,
There is a huge risk of imposter syndrome (Wikipedia link) that impacts some students, especially if they have little programming experience and/or problem-solving experience. You can learn programming for the first time, if you work diligently, consistently, and attend tutoring as needed. APCSA spends the first-semester learning basic algorithms, data types, print statements, user input, loops, decisions, flowcharts, and introduction to classes. The first semester is fast-paced. You should expect 1 hour of homework a night if you are not comfortable at all with programming, or typing. Please keep the APCSA workload in mind as you add on additional AP courses. Students who had 4 or more AP Courses, or 2 DE courses did find time management difficult. Read this article How to overcome impostor phenomenon. We will discuss it during the first week.
Many kids come into both AP Courses without having completed the level 1 pathway course, Intro to Software Technology. Many students come into both classes with absolutely no programming experience, and that is fine. Some kids already have excellent programming skills. AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles are much more than just programming.
The fourth thing,
Third, touch-type, with all 10 fingers the letters, at a minimum of 35 words per minute with 90% accuracy. If you don't already know - by touch - the QWERTY keyboard letters using all 10 of your fingers, you must teach yourself this skill before taking APCSA or APCSP. Ms. Miller will expect that you have this minimum skill. If you only know the keyboard with thumbs, you will need to teach yourself how to type on a laptop or desktop keyboard. Use a free program, online program, a typewriter with a book, and teach yourself the 26 letters and their matching finger. An example - your left-hand pointer finger handles r t f g v b keys in touch-typing and the right pointer finger handles y u h j n m. If you are using thumbs only or four fingers, then you will struggle to keep up and finish programming in the given time.
The fifth thing,
APCSP and APCSA are similar to other Advanced Placement Courses. You are rewarded by completing the AP Exam Process for these classes.
You are rewarded for...
... thinking of yourself as a collegiate-evel student in your collegiality and attitude towards the class and classmates
... joining the CTSO, Technology Student Association (TSA)
... completing competition projects (live and prepared), offered throughout the year.
... keeping a notebook as defined in the first few weeks of class.
Optional/Extra Credit is NOT offered at the end of each semester, as the projects and competitions are offered during the school year.
These are front-loaded courses. After Spring Break, much of both courses moves to AP Classroom and review. There is typically one overriding unit and summative project with a presentation.
This class is NOT graded on a curve. There may be top programmers who score poorly because they fail to follow the notebook, homework, or employability skills, or other things. DO NOT compare yourself to the "top programmers" and count yourself out of a CS Career. There are MANY MANY MANY CS-related careers that are beyond the reach of many programmers, but well within the reach of many other people. There are also many jobs not yet created. So, if you are brave enough to try these courses, you will have the support of Ms. Miller.
The sixth thing,
With all this said so far, some of you may want to do a few things to "get ahead" or "really understand what you're getting into,"
You can do the following:
Teach yourself touch-typing. Two-finger typing is going to slow you down.
Practice public speaking loudly and clearly. You will present your code and thinking process, a lot, in these two classes.
Read an article of your choosing on ethical programming.
Read the AP Course Exam Description for APCSP or the AP Course Exam Description for APCSA.
Read several web pages about the Software Development Life Cycle.
Read several web pages about Agile Scrum in software development.
Learn how to put good quearies into Google - You are a digital native. You should wish to educate and train yourself out of, "Garbage in, garbage out". Relying on the first few things that Google spits back out to you will lead you astray. Read about quality searches and how to do them.
Explore a bit on W3Schools Java Tutorial, Methods, and Classes.
The Seventh thing,
Required for all APCSA and APCSP students.
Using your school email account, email Ms. Miller a professional email before the first day of school. Or within one day of your enrollment in the Computer Science Course for full credit. You will lose 10% each day you are late.
Your email should have:
Subject Line: Use the correct course:
"APCSA 23-24 - Professional Email from [your first and last name as it appears in Infinite Campus]"
"APCSP 23-24 - Professional Email from [your first and last name as it appears in Infinite Campus]"
Include a professional Salutation.
Good afternoon Ms. Miller,
Body: Answer the following statements in complete sentences.
What is your name in Infinite Campus? What would you like me to call you when I call roll? Is this the same name you
want me to use with your parents/guardians/adults/other teachers? What grade will you be in this school year? What do
you know about programming? What is your experience? Are you in TSA already? How are you involved at CHS? Do you
play sports, if so what? What clubs, activities, band, and responsibilities are you in? What do you do outside of school -
like jobs, volunteering, etc?
Why did you decide to take APCSA or APCSP? What is your biggest fear in taking APCSA or APCSP?
What courses are you taking this year? Are you a dual enrollment?
Include anything else you think would be appropriate for an introductory, professional email.
When using email, CC: and BCC: mean the following.
My school email is __________________.
My personal email is _________________.
I check my _(personal/school)_____ email more often.
Include a professional signature -
Sincerely,
[Your first name and last name] (optional pronouns)
APCSP Student or APCSA
Chamblee High School, Class of 202_ [your anticipated grad year]
Email Heather_Miller@dekalbschoolsga.org
CC: your s9XXXXXX@dekalbschoolsga.org (your s number email address) AND
CC: your personal email address that you will actually be checking regularly and will keep after you graduate.
If you don't know what CC: and BCC: are, look those terms up in Google.
The Final Things,
DO THE REQUIRED THINGS for each course. There are due dates are in the first days and the first week of school. Some can be made up. Others cannot. Others wil be graded late. Follow the tabs up top, or the buttons below are for the two different courses.
What to Expect Next Year
How to be Successful in a high school Computer Science class
Computer Science learning is more like a marathon-length triathlon than a 5K run. What do I mean by comparing programming learning to a multi-sport event at great length?
First, pace yourself. A little work each day during the semester both at home during the week and on weekends, and working diligently in class every day will serve you well. In the 2021-2022 school year, the students who spent the time in class and at home, over time, and didn't cram or triage the class earned high Bs, or As. Some students had such a high A, that they could have scored a 0 on the final project and still earned an A for the course. Strive to be those students. They put in the work during the semesters, and they came to tutoring (virtually in the evenings and occasionally on the weekends when students asked for it).
Second, when preparing for class, watch the videos and take notes on traditional loose-leaf notebook paper. Leave about 2-3 inches empty on the right side. Then, in class, add any clarifying information from the class lecture and exercises. Store the notes in a 3-Ring binder that is dedicated to the class. Keep that notebook neat and organized. Not one person who seriously took notes by hand, kept up with their notebook and studied with it, earned lower than an A in either of the courses: APCSA or APCSP.
Third, in class and in tutoring, give 100% of your attention to the discussion at hand. Put up your cell phone, remove your earbuds, and close the extra tabs.
If at home, shut the door to your room. Set an alarm if needed, but do not use the TV or your gaming device, or your cell phone to "keep the time" as you will be distracted. Use YouTube or video tutorials as supplements after you have used the CodeHS videos or additional assigned videos.
Try not to study in the coffee shop, public places, unless you have to use their internet. In those cases, make sure you do use headphones or earbuds. Larger earphones or the little ones with cords send the message to passersby that you are plugged in, not available to chat, and "please do not disturb me" mode.
What kind of learning goes on in an APCSA or APCSP course?
FRQs are on the APCSA exam. You will hand-write in pencil Java Programming Code snippets that address the scenario or question prompt. Details.
MCQs are on the APCSA and APCSP exam.
In class, we write a lot of programs in APCSA-Java a lot. We use a variety of IDEs.
In APCSP, we have one Python Bootcamp. APCSP is a general Computer Science Course. We have more units on general CS stuff than some students woudl like. It is NOT considered a "programming course" while APCSA is considered a "programming course."
We have a short unit on programming with blocks in APCSP. This is Scratch. We also use Microsoft Make Code Arcade.
What to Expect in both APCSA and APCSP? In both courses, you are expected to be taking an Advanced Placement course. This means you will need to shift your student preparation and thinking from a high school (relatively passive) to a collegiate level (relatively active).
In high school level courses that are not AP level, the teacher does a lot of the work for you, and you get to come to class, do what is said, memorize a bunch of stuff, and take the tests. Everything on the rest is presented to you in class.
In these AP courses, because it is college level, the teacher is not going to spoon-feed you little chunks of information, tell you if you're right or wrong, and find your mistakes for you. In an AP college-level course, you are expected to take the information, practice it, apply it, and problem-solve with it. AP Courses often teach the skills early on, then there is a lot of practice, application, and synthesizing that you must do on your own. In college-level courses, you must ask yourself, "Do I know what I need to know to do this? Do I need to research more? ... practice more ... problem-solve more?" "And the ultimate question at the collegiate level, do I know it enough so I could teach it to a junior programmer?"
You need to recognize if you need to supplement your practice, background information, or ask for additional tutoring.
You will be graded both on rubrics, where many answers are possible, as well as mastery of skills-based tasks with one right answer, such as MCQs. You arealready comfortable with some MCQ type of questions where A, B, C, or D are correct. CS MCQs are a little different than other AP Courses, and we will practice them using AP Classroom and other resources. Even college-level MCQs can be different, and harder than high school-level MCQs. The answer to a question might be A only, B only, C only, D, only, A, B, and C, A and B, C and B, A and C, All of the Above, or None of the Above. You might have a question where 1 in 10 answer choices is correct. In other words, college-level course MCQs can be simple True/False questions where 1 of 2 is correct ( a 50% chance of guessing the right answer), or traditional MCQs where 1 of 4 answers are right (a 25% chance of guessing the right answer), or 1 in 10 choices are correct (a 10% chance of guessing the right answer). College-level MCQs often have half-page question stems and have one to five questions, spanning two pages, based on that original question.
What to Expect in APCSA or APCSP?
What to Expect in APCSA specifically? APCSA is front-loaded. The first semester is the learning of Java: the problem-solving, syntax, programming fundamentals, and syntax in Java. The programming assignments are specific skills-based, and they build on each other. Do not get behind first semester. The second semester is applying those skills to real world problems, team-work situations, and the AP Exam. YOu will still have some content to learn, but you will write a lot of programs second semester.
We also work all year in AP Classroom. I grade AP Classroom for completion, not a score. YOU are expected to be collegiate level learning and learn from your own efforts from AP Classroom.
We offer tutoring in the evenings virtually.
The course is slightly bigger than the AP College Board's requirements. You will have some entrepreneurship and employment skills embedded and graded during the school year.
The final exam is actually a project and an exam.
What to Expect in APCSP specifically? APCSP is a split class because the AP Exam is split into an in-class project and a traditional paper exam.
First, we cover IT principles, problem-solving, employment skills, entrepreneurship skills, and product design cycles.
Second, we move into teamwork projects that focus on problem-solving and team negotiating. Their focus is on how to work in teams quickly and efficiently, with accountability, and some presentation skills.
Third, we begin our first programming unit in Python. It is text-based, but beginner-friendly. This is a fundamental skills unit and for those who already know Python, they must still test in Python, but may also spend time working on an unknown-to-them language.
Fourth, we work on coding real programming projects that lead up to building a mock "Create Performance Task." We will build several smaller CPTs before the actual AP CPT. Some students submit a technology fair project in any category, for extra credit.
Fifth, we review the rules, and expectations, and focus on meeting the goals of the AP rubric. The AP CPT score is 30-40% of the total AP score, with 60-70% of the score coming from the MCQs.
Sixth, we work on the CPT in-class and turn it in by spring break.
Seventh, the rest of the semester we work on a negotiated passion project, and presentation.
Eighth, there is a final exam.