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AP Computer Science Principles

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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[1] 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 an end of course exam as well as the creation of artifacts throughout the course.[2]

Description

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 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. The course is mainly taught through the use of code.org.[3]

Topic outline

Curriculum Overview[4] 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 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[5]

  • P1: Connecting Computing
  • P2: Creating Computational Artifacts
  • P3: Abstracting
  • P4: Analyzing Problems and Artifacts
  • P5: Communicating
  • P6: Collaborating

Concept Outline[6]

  • Big Idea 1: Creativity
  • Big Idea 2: Abstraction
  • Big Idea 3: Data and Information
  • Big Idea 4: Algorithms
  • Big Idea 5: Programming
  • Big Idea 6: The Internet
  • Big Idea 7: Global Impact

Assessment

Through-Course Assessment

  • Task 1: Explore – Implications of Computing Innovations[7]
    • Task Description: In the classroom, students explore the impacts of computing on social, economic, and cultural areas of our lives
    • Task Time Limit: 8 hours in Class Time
    • Task Response Format
      • Written Response: Innovation : 400 word Max
      • Written Response: Population and Impact : 300 Word Max
      • Visual Artifact : Visualization or Graphic
      • Visual Artifact Summary: 50 Words
      • Evaluate, Archive and Present Task
  • Task 2- Create – Applications from Ideas[8]
    • Task Description: Students create computational artifacts through the design and development of programs.
    • Task Time Limit: 12 hours in Class Time
    • Task Response Format
      • Individual Program: Source Code PDF and Video
      • Individual Reflection : 300 words
      • Evaluate, Archive and Present Task

End-of-Course AP Exam [2]

  • The exam uses paper and pencil.
  • It lasts 120 minutes and includes approximately 74 questions.
  • The exam is composed of two sections:
    • Single Select Multiple-Choice: Select 1 answer from among 4 options.
    • Multiple Select Multiple-Choice: you select 2 answers from among 4 options

Grade distributions

The AP Computer Science Principles Exam was administered for the first time on May 5, 2017.

Score 2017[9]
5 14%
4 21.6%
3 39%
2 18.5%
1 6.9%

Curriculum

Curriculum Course Delivery Programming Language / Environment Availability/License Support
The Beauty and Joy of Computing [10] Web Based Student Content
edX		 Snap! (programming language) Available for Download at No Cost
Creative Commons License		 Free Live
Free Online Instructor Led
Free Online Self Paced
Paid Instructor Professional Development
Mobile CSP [11] Web Based Student Content
Web Based Teacher Resources and Dashboard		 App Inventor for Android Available for Download at No Cost
Creative Commons License		 Free Professional Development (for up to 200 teachers):

Online Self Paced PD
Online Instructor-led PD
Regional Instructor-led PD

Academic Year Support:
Free Live
Instructor led

THRIVING IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD: AP [12] Web Based Student Content Scratch Processing Sample Only Available for Download Free Live
PLTW CSP [13] Canvas LMS
Printable Student Content		 Python
App Inventor		 Available only after Paid Training
Copyright PLTW		 Paid Live
Code.org CSP [14] Web Based Student Content App Lab, Javascript Available for Download at No Cost
Creative Commons License		 Free Live
Free Online Instructor Led
Free Online Self Paced
CS50 AP [15] Wikispaces Scratch
C
Available for Download at No Cost
Creative Commons License		 Free Live
Free Online Self Paced
CS Matters[16] Face to Face Python Available for Download at No Cost
Creative Commons License 		Professional Development:

Online Python

EarSketch [17] Web Based Student Content
Web Based Teacher Resources		 Python,
JavaScript		 Available online at No Cost
Creative Commons License		 Summer PD:
Free live Instructor PD
Free online Instructor PD
Academic year:
Free online
CodeHS [18] Web Based Student Content

Web Based Teacher Resources

JavaScript Available online at No Cost

Copyright CodeHS

Free Online Teacher Support

Paid Online Teacher Professional Development

References

  1. ^ AP Computer Science Principles Home Page, The College Board
  2. ^ a b AP Computer Science Principles About The Exam Page, The College Board
  3. ^ "College Board launches new AP Computer Science Principles course". National Science Foundation. National Science Foundation. 2014-12-08. Archived from the original on 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-02-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  5. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  6. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  7. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles Draft Performance Tasks" (PDF). College Board. December 2013. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  8. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles Draft Performance Tasks" (PDF). College Board. December 2013. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  9. ^ "How and when to get your AP scores". apscore.collegeboard.org. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  10. ^ "BJC - Beauty and Joy of Computing". BJC - Beauty and Joy of Computing. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Mobile CS". Mobile CSP. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  12. ^ "THRIVING IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD: AP". THRIVING IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD: AP. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  13. ^ "PLTW CSP". Project Lead The Way. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Code.org CSP". Code.org. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  15. ^ "CS50 AP". CS50 AP. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  16. ^ "CS Matters Curriculum Overview". csmatters.org. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  17. ^ "EarSketch". EarSketch. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  18. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles | CodeHS". codehs.com. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
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