What is Computer Science?

A set of standards that integrate computer literacy, educational technology, digital citizenship, information technology, and computer science.

Computer literacy, educational technology, digital citizenship, and information technology are concepts that students are also exposed to in the Computer Technology Standards of Learning.

• Computer literacy refers to the general use of computers and programs, such as productivity software. Examples include performing an Internet search and creating a digital presentation.
• Educational technology applies computer literacy to school subjects. For example, students in an English class can use a web-based application to collaboratively create, edit, and store an essay online.
• Digital citizenship refers to the appropriate and responsible use of technology, such as choosing an appropriate password and keeping it secure.
• Information technology often overlaps with computer science but is mainly focused on industrial applications of computer science, such as installing software rather than creating it. Information technology professionals often have a background in computer science.

• Algorithms and Programming
  • understanding and building a sequence of steps designed to accomplish a specific task
• Computing Systems
  • understanding the interactions that people have with a wide variety of computing devices that collect, store, analyze, and act upon information in ways that can affect human capabilities both positively and negatively. Students work to understand the physical components (hardware) and instructions (software) that make up a computing system and how to troubleshoot when issues arise.
• Cyber Security
  • understanding the protection of computers, networks, programs, and data from unauthorized or unintentional access, manipulation, or destruction
• Data and Analysis
  • understanding how data is collected and stored so that it can be analyzed to better understand the world and make more accurate predictions
• Impacts of Computing
  • understanding the affect that computing has on daily life, how it influences new cultural practices, and how to be an informed and responsible person of the digital world including equity and access to computing
• Networking and the Internet
  • understanding the networks that connect computing systems and how information is shared

Students are living in a data-rich, interconnected world. The VA DOE has developed these standards to give students the tools they need in order to be successful in all post secondary pursuits.