AP Computer Science Principles

This college-level course introduces students to the field of computer science using the five Big Ideas: Creative Development, Algorithms & Programming, Computer Systems and Networks, and Impact of Computing. Students will use reflection and research to explore computing innovations and computing systems, including the Internet, and their potential impacts on society and their own lives.

Students will learn to design, evaluate, and apply computer science solutions to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs.

They will incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge.

This course will provide opportunities for students to collaborate to solve these problems. This course is designed to prepare each student to complete the AP Computer Science Principles exam.

RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITE: Pre-Algebra

Basic and On Demand are always open for registration.

Plus courses are created upon request.

SEMESTER 1

Unit 1: Introduction to Computer Science

Introduction to Computer Science
Computer History
CS Impact on Our Lives

Unit 2: Algorithms

Big Idea 3: Algorithms
Computational Thinking
Algorithms
Searching and Sorting
Pseudocode
Flowcharts

Unit 3: Programming with Scratch

Big Idea 3: Programming
Intro to Scratch
Project Tutorial in Scratch
Planning a Project in Scratch
Loops in Scratch

Unit 4: The Internet

Big Idea 4: Computer Systems and Networks (Internet)
History of the Internet
Internet Systems
Using HTML to Create Webpages

Unit 5: Programming an App

Intro to App Inventor
Using a Tutorial to Build an App
App Architecture
Event Handling

Unit 6: Big Data

Abstraction
Big Idea 2: Data
Data Systems
Ethical Issues
Data Abstraction
Digital Data Representation
Cybersecurity and Cryptography

Unit 7: Mock Create Performance Task

Big Idea 1: Creative Development
Big Idea 5: Impact of Computing
Time Management Tips
Research Tips

SEMESTER 2

Unit 8: Programming with Python

Intro to Python
Programming with Python
Python’s Turtle

Unit 9: Software Development

Software Development Cycle
Stages of Development
Ethical Use and Responsibility

Unit 10: Lists and More in Python

Strings in Python
Lists in Python
Mock Create PT in Python

Unit 11: Create Performance Task

AP Exam Prep
Create Performance Task

Unit 12: AP Exam Prep

APCSP Exam Strategies
AP Exam Review: Abstraction
AP Exam Review: Data
AP Exam Review: Algorithms
AP Exam Review: Programming
AP Exam Review: Internet
AP Exam Review: Global Impact