This course provides students with a solid understanding of algorithms, symbolic reasoning, logic, and object-oriented programming that will allow them to be the innovators and future leaders of their chosen fields. Students will master the skills necessary to thoroughly analyze problems, systematically construct full and correct solutions, and express these solutions with clarity and precision. This course prepares students for the AP Computer Science A exam.
Problem Solving
High-Level Programming (Java)
Sequencing
Selection Statements
Iteration
Recursion
Object Orientation
Abstraction
Encapsulation
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Unit 1: Problem Solving
Top-Down Design
Bottom-Up Design
Sequential Algorithms
Conditional Selection
Iteration
Quadratic Sorting Algorithms (Bubble Sort, Selection Sort, Insertion Sort)
Unit 2: Java Programming
Classes, Abstract Classes, and Interfaces
Methods and Operations
Variables and Constants
Data types
Search Algorithms (Sequential Search, Binary Search)
Unit 3: Arrays and Lists
One-dimensional Arrays
Multidimensional Arrays
Dynamic Arrays
Accessing Array Elements
Adding and Removing Array Elements
Shifting and Rotating Array Elements
Unit 4: Recursion
Base Case vs. Recursive Case
Logarithmic Sorting Algorithms (Merge Sort, Quicksort)
Unit 5: Classes
Abstraction
Encapsulation
Class Definitions
Instance Members and Class Members
Constructors
Unit 6: Class Hierarchies
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Superclasses and Subclasses
Method Overriding
Unit 7: AP Exam Preparation
Course Review
Unit 8: Capstone Project
Software Development
Room E1309 is usually open every morning (except Thursdays) before school (8:30-9:00). Students who need additional assistance, who need to make-up an exam/quiz, or who wish to work on their projects are encouraged to come in to work or get assistance as needed.
Due to federal, minimum class time requirements for CTE classes, Computer Science students may not "flex out of" select flex periods (usually Mondays – Thursdays) as they are considered a continuation of regular class time. While some coursework may be assigned during these periods, students may use the remaining time to make up any missing work in Computer Science, work on projects, or work on homework for another class. See the Westwood Flex Calendar for a schedule of "Academic" vs. "Club and Interest Group" Flex days.
Each unit will contain periodic, short-answer quizzes and AP-styled exams that allow students to demonstrate their mastery of course topics.
These are short, one-day exercises in which students will be challenged with demonstrating their ability to apply computational thinking practices to well-specified, everyday problems.
Each exercise will focus on one of five computational thinking practices:
CTP #1: Program Design and Algorithm Development
CTP #2: Code Logic
CTP #3: Code Implementation
CTP #4: Code Testing
CTP #5: Documentation
Students will be evaluated on their ability to solve these problems and communicate their solutions in a clear, precise, unambiguous, and accurate manner.
At four points throughout the year, students will take a full-length, AP-style, multiple-choice "benchmark" exam that they can use to gauge their progress in learning the course material and preparing for the AP Computer Science A exam in May.
Each exam will include questions that cover the full spectrum of course topics, including those topics that will not be studied until later units.
As students learn more topics throughout the year, their performance can be expected to improve with each successive benchmark exam.
For each AP Benchmark Exam, students who manage to meet or exceed the stated goal for each exam (see chart below) can feel confident that they are making sufficient progress throughout the course to score well on the official AP exam in May.
Grading for the AP Benchmark Exams will be generously curved to account for expected student performance. Students who meet or exceed the stated goal for an exam (see chart below) will receive full credit.
Students are permitted to retake 2 failed assessments per semester.
Missing work may be submitted for a grade until the end of the marking period in which it was assigned.
One Semester Exam may be exempted according to the standard, school policies and restrictions regarding exam exemptions (i.e., requires a semester average of 85, no more than 2 absences for the semester, etc.).
If eligible, exempt the final exam, take no test, and receive no semester exam grade.
Accept a pre-calculated exam grade based on the semester's 2 AP Benchmark Exams and take no test during the final exam period.
Take an additional 40-question multiple-choice AP Benchmark Exam on the date of the final exam to serve as a semester exam grade.