Santa Barbara Unified School District

Exploring Computer Science is a hands-on introduction to computer architecture, programming, and using the computer as a creative tool. The class is taught in the computer lab and is project-based, rather than textbook-based. The class is divided into four to six basic units, each 1-2 months long. Units may consist of: survey of computer architecture and human/computer interaction; web site development; interactive game theory and game development using Scratch; mobile app development; and robotics/graphics. Each unit uses a series of projects of increasing complexity to introduce, refine, and integrate programming and development concepts, culminating with a "capstone" project as a unit final.

Exploring Computer Science is a hands-on introduction to computer architecture, programming, and using the computer as a creative tool. The class is taught in the computer lab and is project-based, rather than textbook-based. The class is divided into four to six basic units, each 1-2 months long. Units may consist of: survey of computer architecture and human/computer interaction; web site development; interactive game theory and game development using Scratch; mobile app development; and robotics/graphics. Each unit uses a series of projects of increasing complexity to introduce, refine, and integrate programming and development concepts, culminating with a "capstone" project as a unit final.

In this course, students learn to write simple text-based computer programs using processing to create fine art. By the end of the course, students will master the standard programming constructs of variables and mathematical operators, control structures (conditionals, loops, functions), and data types and compound data structures. Students will also learn and master the following: basics of color theory; role of shape in traditional art; how shapes are represented computationally; how 2D mathematical functions can represent and control shape; basics of 2D coordinate systems; basics of curves; basics of composition and relationship; basics of perspective; how images are represented digitally; basic image manipulation (e.g. edge detection); the principles of animation; hierarchical modeling for rigid body animation; and simple particle simulations.

In this course, students learn to write simple text-based computer programs using processing to create fine art. By the end of the course, students will master the standard programming constructs of variables and mathematical operators, control structures (conditionals, loops, functions), and data types and compound data structures. Students will also learn and master the following: basics of color theory; role of shape in traditional art; how shapes are represented computationally; how 2D mathematical functions can represent and control shape; basics of 2D coordinate systems; basics of curves; basics of composition and relationship; basics of perspective; how images are represented digitally; basic image manipulation (e.g. edge detection); the principles of animation; hierarchical modeling for rigid body animation; and simple particle simulations.

This is a 2nd year class aimed at understanding, designing, and developing both server-and-client-side software for the internet, such as the many websites and their back ends that we all interact with daily. While accomplishing the above tasks students will continue to improve and master their understanding of variables, loops, arrays, recursion, and objects. They will become familiar with the concepts of inheritance, overwriting, overloading, interfaces, and polymorphism.

This is a 2nd year class aimed at understanding, designing, and developing both server-and-client-side software for the internet, such as the many websites and their back ends that we all interact with daily. While accomplishing the above tasks students will continue to improve and master their understanding of variables, loops, arrays, recursion, and objects. They will become familiar with the concepts of inheritance, overwriting, overloading, interfaces, and polymorphism.

Introduction to RobotIcs Programming is a year-long , hands-on course exploring both the fundamentals of programming and the fundamentals of robotics engineering. Students will use curriculum developed by the Carnegie-Mellon Robotics Institute and program VEX IQ robots to solve a number of problems. It is designed to be purely project-based education, where the project is the assessment. It consists of 10 basic units where students program the robot to solve challenge problems, plus a “Grand Challenge” at the end of the course.

Introduction to RobotIcs Programming is a year-long , hands-on course exploring both the fundamentals of programming and the fundamentals of robotics engineering. Students will use curriculum developed by the Carnegie-Mellon Robotics Institute and program VEX IQ robots to solve a number of problems. It is designed to be purely project-based education, where the project is the assessment. It consists of 10 basic units where students program the robot to solve challenge problems, plus a “Grand Challenge” at the end of the course.

Students will learn to identify a real world problem or need that can be solved with computer science and work with a team to collaborate with stakeholders to plan a solution, implement and test the solution, deploy it in the real world, and use feedback from stakeholders to revise or improve the solution.  Students will acquire knowledge and skills commonly needed by software engineers, project managers, and others in related jobs.  These skills and knowledge include industry standard methods of project management, version control software, how to find and use appropriate APIs and libraries for specific needs, how to interact with stakeholders or customers, how to develop and present project proposals, and more.

Students will learn to identify a real world problem or need that can be solved with computer science and work with a team to collaborate with stakeholders to plan a solution, implement and test the solution, deploy it in the real world, and use feedback from stakeholders to revise or improve the solution.  Students will acquire knowledge and skills commonly needed by software engineers, project managers, and others in related jobs.  These skills and knowledge include industry standard methods of project management, version control software, how to find and use appropriate APIs and libraries for specific needs, how to interact with stakeholders or customers, how to develop and present project proposals, and more.

AP Computer Science is an introductory college course in computer science which uses the Java programming language. Because the development of computer programs to solve problems is a skill fundamental to the study of computer science, a large part of the course is built around the development of computer programs or parts of programs that correctly solve a given problem. The course also emphasizes the design issues that make programs understandable, adaptable, and, when appropriate, reusable. In addition to this, topics covered include the development and analysis of algorithms, the development and use of fundamental data structures, and the study of standard algorithms and typical applications. Finally, an understanding of the basic hardware and software components of computer systems and the responsible use of these systems are integral parts of the course.

AP Computer Science is an introductory college course in computer science which uses the Java programming language. Because the development of computer programs to solve problems is a skill fundamental to the study of computer science, a large part of the course is built around the development of computer programs or parts of programs that correctly solve a given problem. The course also emphasizes the design issues that make programs understandable, adaptable, and, when appropriate, reusable. In addition to this, topics covered include the development and analysis of algorithms, the development and use of fundamental data structures, and the study of standard algorithms and typical applications. Finally, an understanding of the basic hardware and software components of computer systems and the responsible use of these systems are integral parts of the course.