Computer Science
Junior High Computer Science will be taught using the curriculum developed by code.org. Computer Science Discoveries is a precursor to Computer Science Principles which is taught at the high school level. The course takes a wide lens on computer science by covering topics such as problem solving, programming, physical computing, user-centered design, and data, while inspiring students as they build their own websites, apps, games, and physical computing devices.
Units of Study
Unit 1: Problem Solving and Computing
What strategies and processes can I use to become a more effective problem solver?
Unit 2: Web Development
Why do people create websites?
How can text communicate content, structure, and style on a web page?
How do I safely and appropriately make use of the content published on the Internet?
What strategies can I use when coding to find and fix issues?
Unit 3: Interactive Animations and Games
What is a computer program?
What are the core features of most programming languages?
How does programming enable creativity and individual expression?
What practices and strategies will help me as I write programs?
Unit 4: The Design Process
How do designers identify the needs of their user?
How can we ensure that a user's needs are met by our designs?
What processes will best allow us to efficiently create, test, and iterate upon our designs?
Unit 5: Data and Society
Why is representation important in problem solving?
What features does a representation system need to be useful?
What is necessary to create usable binary representation systems?
How can we combine systems together to get more complex information?
Unit 6: Physical Computing
How does software interact with hardware?
How can computers sense and respond to their environment?
What kind of information can be communicated with simple hardware outputs?