Mr. Baltz's Website - PLTW Computer Science Principles H

Computer Science Principles

Using Python® as a primary tool and incorporating multiple platforms and languages for computation, this course aims to develop computational thinking, generate excitement about career paths that utilize computing, and introduce professional tools that foster creativity and collaboration. Computer Science Principles helps students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation. PLTW 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 PLTW CSP’s offerings are aligned to the AP Curriculum Framework standards and the AP CSP assessment.

PLTW CSP Honors

PLTW Computer Science Principles Honors (CSP H) 2024-25

Syllabus for PLTW CS Principles Honors Course

Greenville High School

Mr. Baltz

jbaltz@greenville.k12.sc.us (parents)

jbaltz@greenvilleschools.us (students)

864-355-5540

Course Description

Students work in teams to develop computational thinking and solve problems. Structured activities progress to open-ended projects and problems that require planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills. Problems aim for ground-level entry with no ceiling: all students can successfully engage the problems while students showing greater achievement are challenged to work further. There are five primary course objectives:

To develop problem solving and computational thinking skills
To generate excitement about the field of computing
To introduce computational tools that foster creativity
To build awareness of career opportunities in all fields for people with computational skills
To consider issues raised by the present and future societal impact of computing

CS Principles: Computational Thinking Practices and Big Ideas

Students develop the six Computational Thinking Practices and achieve enduring understandings of the seven Big Ideas by collaborating to create solutions to problems. They evaluate and communicate solutions and connect computing to all areas of work and society. In considering any problem, students build the habit of considering five ways in which computing can be applied to a problem.

Express ideas with creativity
- Use tools to create and remix artifacts including sound, images, video, and text, and visualizations. Understand how such data are represented digitally.
Safely and effectively use the internet
- Use the Internet for collaboration, crowd-sourcing, research, publication, social networking, and economic participation. Understand principles of cyber hygiene.
Collect, visualize, analyze, and communicate data
- Formulate problems so that computation can help solve them, logically organize data, and generalize patterns in data.
Model and simulate
- Identify abstractions in a model and understand, predict, and communicate phenomena with simulation.
Create and improve algorithms and automate
- Describe and improve an algorithmic procedure. Create software for networked and embedded computing and physical automation.

Course Style

Each lesson is framed by a project or problem. Students begin each lesson by considering the problem and the lesson's essential questions, and they reflect throughout the lesson on the essential questions. The knowledge and skills necessary for students to successfully engage the problem are taught during activities guided by step-by-step instructions, instructional videos, teacher presentations, and unplugged activities. Students complete the vast majority of the work in the course with a partner, typically changing partners each lesson.

Late Work Policy

Follows Greenville High School's Honors Policy
- Minor - 10 points off per day for 5 days and then zero
- Major - 10 points off per day for 5 days and then until end of quarter to turn in for max of 50

Grading Policy:

60% Major Grades ( Tests and Projects)
40% Minor Grades ( Quiz, Classwork, Homework )

Texts and Learning Resources

Passages are used in specific assignments.

PLTW. (2016). Computer Science Principles.

Codehs dot com

Computer Languages Used

Python is the primary language used in the course overall. During the unit on Input and Output, students use Python and Microsoft® Excel®.

Learning Objectives

In Computer Science Principles, students develop the in-demand computer science skills critical to thrive in any of today’s and tomorrow’s careers. The course promotes computational thinking and coding fundamentals and introduces computational tools that foster creativity. It aims to build students’ awareness of the tremendous demand for computer scientists and those who have computational thinking skills, and engages students to consider issues raised by the impact of computing on society. Each unit also focuses on one or more computer science specific career paths. Computer Science Principles provides students with a broad exposure to the many aspects of computer science while encouraging creativity, socially responsible choices, and ethical behavior. It inspires algorithmic and computational thinking, helping students see themselves in a career path they might not have initially chosen.

The following is a list of the units of study included:

Unit 3 - Basic Python and Console Interaction (Project: Mad Libs)

Unit 5 - Conditionals (Project: Quiz Game)

Unit 7 - Looping (Project: Password Authenticator)

Unit 9 - Functions

Unit 10 - Strings (Project: The Game of Pig)

Unit 12 - Data Structures

Unit 13 - Extending Data Structures (Project: Guess the Word)

Unit 15 - File Input/Output

Data Science:
Unit D1 - Data Science Life Cycle

Unit D2 - Data Science for Change

Unit D4 - Data Storytelling (Project: Data Analytics Project)

The Following Assessment is Required and Ungraded:

PLTW Assessment PLTW End-of-Course Exam (Two 40-minute sessions)

Why use Codehs rather than PLTW?
My reason for this is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). Greenville County Schools is committed to complying with applicable information security requirements and relevant information security standards and protocols. While lessons on pltw's website is approved by GCS, many of the tools built into the PLTW CSP course are not approved. For instance, in almost every lesson the PLTW curriculum uses an interactive code editor called trinket. Trinket is not approved by GCS under COPPA because of it's open source nature. Because all student work would have to take place inside of a code editor, it has to be compliant with COPPA. The codehs content is very similar to the pltw content, but the difference is the code editor is completely contained within their domain which is fully approved by GCS. For More Information See GCS COPPA ARTICLE