Course Description:

The CodeHS Introduction to Programming with Karel the Dog course teaches students the basics of programming by giving commands to a computer just like you give commands to a dog. Karel is a dog that lives in a grid world and can be instructed to move around and pick up and put down tennis balls. Students will learn JavaScript commands, functions, and control structures by solving puzzles and writing creative programs for Karel to follow. 

The content is a mix of web-based and physical activities. Students will write and run code in the browser, and engage in in-person collaborative exercises with classmates.

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. What is Programming 

2. Functions

3. For Loops

4. If Statements

5. If/Else Statements

6. While Loops

Course Outline

First Quarter

• Karel in Python

• Console Interaction

• Conditionals 

• Looping

Second Quarter

• Functions

• Strings

• Creating and Altering Data Structures

• Extending Data Structures

Required Materials:

1. Charged Chromebook will be required in all class sessions.

Class Expectations:

• Be respectful to everyone in our classroom.

• Be on time! 

• Come to class prepared to put forth your best effort. 

• Handle your business.  Take responsibility for your work as well as your behavior.

• Phones will be put away during class unless otherwise stated by the teacher 

Course Policies:

Grading Practices

• Grades will be categorized in one of two categories: Major or Minor

• Major grades are 60% of the student’s quarter grade.  There will be a minimum of 4 major grades each quarter.

• Minor grades are 40% of the student’s quarter grade.  There will be a minimum of 12 minor grades each quarter.

Late Work Policy

• Major:  Students will have three days to turn in major assignments for up to 70% of the grade, not incurring more than a 10% reduction each day the assignment is late.

• Minor:  Students will have until before the unit assessment to complete minor assignments for full credit.

Retake Policy

Retake is available for major grades in a quarter when a student’s major assignment grade is below 60%. Students have five (5) school days to complete the following and retake the assessment.

1. Students must make an appointment with the teacher to plan remediation. Remediation can include, but is not limited to:

   1. test corrections

   2. completing missing work

   3. tutoring

   4. additional practice

   5. project revisions

2. Students must complete the remediation plan

3. Retake assessment for replacement grade

Makeup Work Policy

• Once a student returns to school after an absence or consecutive absences, the student has 5 days to make up any work from the time period they missed.

Bathroom Policy

• Students are will not be allowed to go to the restroom in the first 10 or last 10 minutes of class 

• Students will be expected to create a pass on the SmartPass website or app and send it to the teacher before using the restroom/ getting water. 

• One student at a time