Computer Science

Computer Science Essentials (CSE) is a high-school elective.  ADP students will take either Computer Science Essentials or AP Computer Science Principles freshman year.

In CSE, students use their creativity to code and interact with peers.

Concepts

In Computer Science Essentials, students develop the ability to code from phases, beginning with Blocky Code and ending with Python® text. It follows the form:

MIT® App Inventor® → VEXcode® → Python®

With MIT® App Inventor®, students use BLOCK-BASED code to create apps for the Android® phone.

With VEXcode®, students use BLOCK-BASED code to program robots on wheels.

With Python®, students use TEXT-BASED code to create computer programs that can perform calculations and gather user input, including text-based games.

Students also learn topics and skills general to all programming languages. These include:

• Variables and Calculations

• Sequences, Conditionals, and Loops

• Agile Work Process and Scrum Teams

• The Beginning of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

AP® Computer Science Principles is an alternative to Computer Science Essentials

Concepts

In AP® Computer Science Principles, the student is introduced to programming in general and learns a text-based language of the teacher's choosing.

Students learn the following topics and skills:

• Variables and Calculations

• Algorithms, Conditionals, and Loops

• Functions and their Parameters.

AP® Test

AP® Computer Science Principles is only taken by students if they are unable to take Computer Science Essentials. Hence, taking the AP® Test in Computer Science Principles is not required.

However, later AP® tests in other classes are required as part of the program.

AP® Website: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/what-is-ap

AP® Computer Science A (commonly called "AP® Java®") is an AP® class taken sophomore year.

Concepts

In AP® Computer Science A all programming is done in the Java® text-based language. Students create interactive programs, including text-based games.

Students learn the following topics and skills:

• Variables and Calculations

• Algorithms, Conditionals, and Loops

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

• Program interaction with Files

• Teamwork

• De-bugging strategies

AP® Test

The AP® Test is an optional exam during the Spring. It asks you to create various algorithms and answer multiple choice questions about code behavior.

Scoring a 3 or higher on an AP® test will gain the student college credit. Certain AP Tests are required for the STEM ADP Program.

AP® Website: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/what-is-ap

CSCI 130 is a Heartland Class required as part of the cohort in the first semester of Junior Year.

Concepts

In CSCI 130, the student learns to code in a text-based language.

In CSCI 130, the students will learn the following skills:

• Data types and abstraction

• Variable scopes and encapsulation

• Selection, repetition, and sequencing

• Problem-solving algorithms

• Debugging

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

• Inheritance

• Polymorphism

CSCI 115 is a Heartland Class required as part of the cohort in the second semester of Junior Year.

Concepts

In CSCI 115, students focus on the mathematical principles used by computers.

In CSCI 115, the students will learn the following skills:

• Logic

• Various data structures

• Counting and number systems (ex. binary)

• Applying algorithms to data

CSCI 131 is a Heartland Class required as part of the cohort in the first semester of Senior Year.

Concepts

In CSCI 131, students will expand their programming abilities.

In CSCI 131, the students will learn the following skills:

• Efficiently solving large-scale problems

• Recursion

• Searching and sorting data

• Using input and output