AP Computer Science Principles
AP CSP
AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) 2024
Syllabus for AP CS Principles Course
Greenville High School
Mr. Baltz
864-355-5540
Course Description
Code.org’s Computer Science Principles (CSP) curriculum is a full-year, rigorous, entry-level course that introduces high school students to the foundations of modern computing. The course covers a broad range of foundational topics such as programming, algorithms, the Internet, big data, digital privacy and security, and the societal impacts of computing. The course is designed for typical school settings with teachers in classrooms. All teacher and student materials are provided for free online.
AP Exam 2024
The AP test will be made up of two parts:
1.) The Create Performance Task - (Visit Page 201 of this Document to read more information on this) - The Create PT is a large programming project that THE STUDENT (NOT THE TEACHER) turns into the College Board prior to the AP Exam. The Create Task project is worth 30% of the AP Score. April 30, 2024 (11:59 p.m. ET) is the deadline for AP Computer Science Principles students to submit their Create performance task as final. The written portion of the Create task will take place on the Exam day.
Each student is given 9 hours of class time to complete the project. Students will submit program code, video, and a student-authored personalized project reference. (1/3 of the project score.)
There will be 2 written response questions in which students have 60 minutes to answer on the day of the exam. (2/3 of project score)
2.) The End of Course Exam will be Wednesday, May 15, 2024 @ 12 noon - This is a 70 question multiple choice exam. The exam consists of the following:
57 single-select multiple-choice
5 single-select with reading passage about a computing innovation
8 multiple-select multiple-choice: select 2 answers
The Multiple choice section is worth 70% of the AP Score.
A student who fails to meet deadlines for the Create Project will be graded according to Greenville High's Late Work Policy. Failure to submit the Create Project Requirements will result in a fine (costing the price of the AP Exam). The Create Project will be completed during class and this project will be an important part of your grade during the 4th quarter.
Late Work Policy
Follows Greenville High School's AP policy:
25 points off a day
4th day and beyond it is a zero
Grading Policy:
60% Major Grades ( Tests and Projects)
40% Minor Grades ( Quiz, Classwork, Homework )
AP Endorsed
Code.org is recognized by the College Board as an endorsed provider of curriculum and professional development for AP® Computer Science Principles (AP CSP). This endorsement affirms that all components of Code.org CSP’s offerings are aligned to the AP Curriculum Framework standards, the AP CSP assessment, and the AP framework for professional development. Using an endorsed provider affords schools access to resources including an AP CSP syllabus pre-approved by the College Board’s AP Course Audit, and officially recognized professional development that prepares teachers to teach AP CSP.
Curriculum Overview and Goals
Computing affects almost all aspects of modern life and all students deserve access to a computing education that prepares them to pursue the wide array of intellectual and career opportunities that computing has made possible. Here is a brief summary of each of the units in the Code.org CSP curriculum.
This course is not a tour of current events and technologies. Rather, it seeks to provide students with a “future proof” foundation in computing principles so that they are adequately prepared with both the knowledge and skills to live and meaningfully participate in our increasingly digital society, economy, and culture.
Code.org CS Principles Course Snapshot
The following chart is intended to show the big picture of the entire course.
● Each unit is broken into “chapters” - groups of lessons that address a related set of topics. Each chapter ends with some kind of assessment.
● Each chapter shows every lesson title along with suggested pacing guidance
● Note the Performance Tasks cluster of lessons at the end. They are not a formal unit of the course because work on the tasks can take place at various points throughout the course. However, you must plan to allocate time toward completing them.
While the layout of units appears to be modular, the units of study are scaffolded and sequenced to build students’ skills and knowledge toward the Enduring Understandings of the CSP Course Framework. The lessons for each unit assume that students have the knowledge and skills obtained in the previous units. There are also many thematic connections that can be made between and among lessons and units.
Each unit attempts to “tell a story” about a particular topic in computing from a more primitive beginning to a more complex end. The lessons in each unit are grouped into one or two chapters of a few weeks worth of lessons whose content is related or connected in some way. The course snapshot on the first page shows the chapters for each unit. Each lesson is intended to be a complete thought that takes the student from some motivational question or premise to an activity that builds skills and knowledge toward some learning objective(s).
Each unit contains at least one summative assessment, project, or Practice PT that asks students to complete tasks similar to the official PTs. Sometimes these come mid-unit, and sometimes they come closer to the end.
Course Sequencing:
Technical Requirements
The course requires and assumes a 1:1 computer lab or setup such that each student in the class has access to an Internet-connected computer every day in class. Each computer must have a modern web browser installed. All of the course tools and resources (lesson plans, teacher dashboard, videos, student tools, programming environment, etc.) are online and accessible through a modern web browser.
While the course features many “unplugged” activities designed to be completed away from the computer, daily access to a computer is essential for every student. It is not required that students have access to internet-connected computers at home to teach this course. But because almost all of the materials are online, it is certainly an advantage. PDFs of handouts, worksheets and readings are available on the course website.
Performance Tasks
The college board just made major changes to the performance task. I will update with the full details in March.