AP Computer Science Principles: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:38, 8 March 2016

Revision as of 10:52, 16 March 2016

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{{Advanced Placement}}

'''Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles''' (also called '''AP CSP''') is an [[AP Computer Science]] course and examination offered by the [[College Board]] to [[high school]] students as an opportunity to earn college credit for a [[college]]-level [[computer science]] course. '''AP Computer Science Principles'''<ref>[https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-computer-science-principles AP Computer Science Principles Home Page], The College Board</ref> is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester course in computer science. Assessment for AP Computer Science Principles is divided into two parts, both and end of course exam as well as the creation of artifacts through outthroughout the course.<ref name="apstudent.collegeboard.org">[https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-computer-science-principles/about-the-exam AP Computer Science Principles About The Exam Page], The College Board</ref>

==AP Computer Science Principles==

'''Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles''' encourages the application of creative processes while developing artifacts to solve problems. The course focuses on learning to create computational artifacts. Students enrolled in the course learn the role and impact of technology and programming in society. Students also develop an appreciation of programming and technology as a way to personally significant artifacts and an understanding of programming and technology as a way to to create solutions to computational problems. The courses focuses on an iterative approach to creation of programmatic and digital artifacts similar to the processes used by professional engineers and computer scientists. AP Computer Science Principles is expressly designed to encourage participation in computer science by under represented student communities by allowing flexibility in instruction for the use of a variety of computing tools and languages. The course introduces students to a survey of computing topics and provides a comprehension of fundamental programming, the wide variety of applications of programming and programmings trans-formative potential for our global society.<ref name="NSF2014-12-08">{{cite news|title=College Board launches new AP Computer Science Principles course|url=http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=133571|accessdate=2016-02-22|agency=National Science Foundation|publisher=National Science Foundation|date=2014-12-08|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6fUSSVCWp |archivedate=2016-02-22 }}</ref>

==AP Computer Science Principles Topic outline==

'''Curriculum Overview'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-computer-science-principles-curriculum-framework.pdf |title=AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017 |format=PDF |pages=2–3 |publisher=College Board |date=Fall 2010 |accessdate=2016-02-22}}</ref>

The framework focuses on computational thinking practices which are applied throughout the curriculum. The concept outline included in the curriculum is divided into seven units called "Big Ideas". Each unit contains a series of "Learning Objectives". Each "Learning Objective" is a general benchmark of student performance or understanding which has a an associated "Enduring Understanding". An "Enduring Understanding" is a core comprehension which students should retain well after completing the course. Each "Learning Objective" is split into multiple "Essential Knowledge" standards, which are specific facts or content which the student must know to demonstrate mastery of the learning objective when assessed.

'''Computational Thinking Practices'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-computer-science-principles-curriculum-framework.pdf |title=AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017 |format=PDF |pages=4–5 |publisher=College Board |date=Fall 2010 |accessdate=2016-02-22}}</ref>

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***Evaluate, Archive and Present Task

'''End-of-Course AP Exam''' <ref>[https:// name="apstudent.collegeboard.org"/apcourse/ap-computer-science-principles/about-the-exam AP Computer Science Principles About The Exam Page], The College Board</ref>

*The exam will use paper and pencil.

*It will last 120 minutes and will include approximately 74 items.

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==Grade distributions for AP Computer Science Principles==

The AP Computer Science Principles Exam will be administered for the first time in spring of 2016. As a result, there is currently no grade distribution.

==Curriculum for AP Computer Science Principles==