Resource Map for Imparting Key 21st Century Skills

AI and Machine Learning

Grade 6-8 | 08 Units

Course Description

Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory computer science course for 6 - 10th-grade students. Mapped to CSTA standards, 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, animations, games, and physical computing systems.

CS Discoveries can be flexibly taught as a single semester, two semesters over multiple years, or as a full-year course. Options are even available for less than one semester.

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Unit 1 - Problem Solving and Computing ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: The Problem-Solving Process[3 Lessons]
Chapter 2: Computers and Problem Solving[5 Lessons]
Alternate lessons: 5

Unit 2 - Web Development ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: Creating Webpages [13 lessons]
Chapter 2: Multi Page-Websites [8 Lessons]

Unit 3 - Interactive Animations and Games ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: Images and Animations[17 Lessons]
Chapter 2: Building Games[[10 Lessons]

Unit 4 - The Design Process ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: User-Centered Design[[8Lessons]
Chapter 2: App Prototyping[13 Lessons]

Unit 5 - Data and Society ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: Representing Information[[8Lessons]
Chapter 2: Solving Data Problems[8Lessons]

Unit 6 - Physical Computing ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: Inputs and Outputs[8Lessons]
Chapter 2: Building Physical Prototypes[8Lessons]

Unit 7 - AI and Machine Learning ('22-'23)

Chapter 1: Understanding Machine Learning[15 lessons]
Chapter 2: Design a Machine Learning App[[6Lessons]

Unit 8 - 1 Survey

Learning Objectives

Unit 1:Problem Solving and Computing ('22-'23)

Problem Solving and Computing is a highly interactive and collaborative introduction to the field of computer science, as framed within the broader pursuit of solving problems. You’ll practice using a problem-solving process to address a series of puzzles, challenges, and real-world scenarios. Next, you’ll learn how computers input, output, store, and process information to help humans solve problems. The unit concludes with a project in which you design an application that helps solve a problem of your choosing.

Unit 2:Web Development ('22-'23)

In web Development, students are empowered to create and share content on their own web pages. They begin by thinking about the role of the web and how it can be used as a medium for creative expression. As students develop their pages and begin to see themselves as programmers, they are encouraged to think critically about the impact of sharing information online and how to be more critical consumers of content. They are also introduced to problem-solving as it relates to programming while they learn valuable skills such as debugging, using resources, and teamwork. At the conclusion of the unit, students will have created a personal website they can publish and share.

Unit 3:Interactive Animations and Games ('22-'23)

In the Interactive Animations and Games unit, students create programmatic images, animations, interactive art, and games. Starting off with simple, primitive shapes and building up to more sophisticated sprite-based games, students become familiar with the programming concepts and the design process computer scientists use daily. They then learn how these simpler constructs can be combined to create more complex programs. In the final project, students develop a personalized, interactive program.

Unit 4:The Design Process ('22-'23)

The Design Process unit transitions students from thinking about computer science as a tool to solve their own problems towards considering the broader social impacts of computing. Through a series of design challenges, students are asked to consider and understand the needs of others while developing a solution to a problem. The second half of the unit consists of an iterative team project, during which students have the opportunity to identify a need that they care about, prototype solutions both on paper and in App Lab, and test their solutions with real users to get feedback and drive further iteration.

Unit 5 - Data and Society ('22-'23)

The Data and Society unit is about the importance of using data to solve problems and it highlights how computers can help in this process. The first chapter explores different systems used to represent information in a computer and the challenges and tradeoffs posed by using them. In the second chapter, students learn how collections of data are used to solve problems, and how computers help to automate the steps of this process. In the final project, students gather their own data and use it to develop an automated solution to a problem.

Unit 6-Physical Computing ('22-'23)

In the Physical Computing unit, students explore the role of physical devices in computing. Using App Lab and Adafruit’s Circuit Playground, students develop programs that utilize the same hardware inputs and outputs that they see in the smart devices, looking at how a simple rough prototype can lead to a finished product. Then, students explore how physical devices can be used to react to the world around them using a “maker” mindset to create prototypes with everyday materials.

Unit 7- AI and Machine Learning ('22-'23)

This unit is a hands-on introduction to developing a machine-learning model with tabular data. Students explore how computers learn from data to make decisions, then develop machine-learning projects around real-world data. The unit culminates in designing a machine learning app to solve a personally relevant problem.

Unit 8- CS Discoveries Post-Course Survey

This unit contains a survey for when your class is finished with the units in CS Discoveries. Your teacher will tell you when it's time to take this survey.