COMPUTER SCIENCE EXPLORATIONS 

An introductory, entry-level computer science course that exposes students to a wide variety of foundational computer science topics, including computing systems, algorithms, networks, programming, data & analysis, and physical computing. Throughout the course, students will apply their foundational knowledge and computational thinking practices to ask questions, carry out investigations, construct explanations, and solve problems rooted in modern day computer technology and systems. Computer Science Exploration will provide all students with foundational technology and computational thinking skills deemed essential to the modern workforce. In addition, this course provides students with adequate skills and background to pursue more advanced computer science courses, including Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science Principles, and college level computer science. This course will be submitted to UC for A-G approval as a “G” elective.

COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES

Throughout the Computer Science A course experience, students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implication of the computing systems. Th course emphasizes object-oriented programming and deign using the Java programming language. To be successful in Computer Science A, Students will gain experience creating programs using procedural, event-driven, and object oriented programming paradigms. They will design a user interface (UI) based on human-computer interaction (HCI) principles, debug and test code, create annotated programs with in-code commenting and documentation, use top-won and bottom-up design approaches, and preform prototyping. Students will do hands-on work to design, write, and test computer programs that solve problems or accomplish tasks.  PREREQUISITE: CS Explorations 

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CAPSTONE

The knowledge and skills students acquire throughout Project Lead the Way high school courses in computer science and engineering come together in the Project Lead the Way Capstone as student teams pool resources to identify an issue or problem of interest and then research, design, and test a solution, ultimately presenting their solution to a panel of professionals. Students work with their team, drawing on the strengths and skills of each member, as they prepare themselves for the interdisciplinary collaboration required for success in college and career. The PLTW Capstone is a course for students who are completing any of PLTW’s high school programs. It is an open-ended research course in which students work in teams to design and develop an original solution to a well-defined and justified open-ended problem. Teams draw on the knowledge, skills, and interests of each member, as they perform research to select, define, and justify a problem. Given this collaboration, team members leave the course with a broadened skillset and an appreciation for learning from their peers. After carefully defining the design requirements and creating multiple solution approaches, student teams select an approach, create, and test or model their solution prototype. As they progress through the problem-solving process, students work closely with experts and continually hone their organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, creative and problem-solving abilities, and their understanding of the integration of processes such as the design process, experimental design, and the software development process. At the conclusion of the course, teams present and defend their original solution to an outside panel. PREREQUISITE: CS Explorations + CS Principles OR Intro to Design + Principles of Engineering