AP Computer Science A - Syllabus Overview of AP Computer Science A Computer Facilities

AP

Computer Science A - Syllabus

Overview of AP

Computer Science A Computer Facilities

The classroom is set up like a traditional classroom on the left side of the room. This is where I will conduct my lectures and the students will take notes and also take their paper-based quizzes and tests. The right side of the classroom houses the computers in a U-shaped

configuration. This is where the students will conduct their labs. I believe this classroom arrangement is conducive to a productive learning environment, since students are not distracted with computer work during my lectures. Students use the computer on average three times per week. The internal computer support staff work very hard to maintain a 100 percent up-time for the computers. Students can schedule other times to work on their assignments on these computers as necessary.

Texts and Resources

Bergin, Joseph, et al. Karel J. Robot: A Gentle Introduction to the Art of Object-Oriented Programming Using Java. Copyright Joseph Bergin.

http://csis.pace.edu/~bergin/KarelJava2ed/Karel + +JavaEdition.html

Wittry, Dave. Teacher resources for Karel J Robot

http://www.apcomputerscience.com/ The information on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license. I give credit for the material when I use it in my classroom.

GridWorld Case Study. The College Board, 2006.

Horstmann, Cay. Java Concepts. Copyright John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2008. http://www.wiley.com

Syllabus at a Glance

General Topic Week

Karel J. Robot 1-7

Java Basics, Introduction to Classes and OOP, Strings 8-11

Arrays and Array Lists 12-13

Interfaces, Polymorphism, Inheritance 14-16

GridWorld Case Study – Part 1 (Intro) 17-18

GridWorld Case Study – Part 2 (Bug variations) 19-20 Array Sorting, Searching, Insertions, and Recursion 21-22 GridWorld Case Study – Part 3 (Classes and interfaces) 23-24 GridWorld Case Study – Part 4 (Critters) 25-26

Review for AP Exam 27-29

AP Exam 30

Computer Science Project 31-34

Course Outline

Weeks 1-7

Introduction to the principal concepts of computer science using Karel J.

Robot.

Objectives

• Become familiar with the computer lab, accounts, and an IDE (eclipse).

• Understand object-oriented programming and top-down design/refinement of individual tasks.

• Understand basic class structure including instance variables, local variables, parameter passing, scope, public/private visibility, use of super.

• Learn sequence, selection, and iteration techniques.

• Be exposed to recursion.

• Understand inheritance, polymorphism, and overriding methods.

• Use java.lang.Math.random(), RandNumGenerator.

• Analyze, design, code, and test software.

• Determine error categorization/correction.

• Become familiar with computer science terminology.

Teaching Strategies

My teaching philosophy is to use a spiral approach to make sure that students understand computer science concepts. I will start with simpler concepts, which they will visualize and then I will gradually introduce more complicated topics. The result is that the students will build on their understanding as they absorb these new concepts and improve their computer programs. Imagination is greatly encouraged.

I will use a variety of examples to explain computer science concepts in an understandable fashion. My students will be able to learn from their mistakes as they test their program modifications. My overall goal is to make the class enjoyable and informative, so that the students thoroughly understand the concepts of computer science.

References/Readings

Karel J. Robot, Chapters 1-8.

Sections of lecture materials from the www.apcomputerscience.com website.

Assignments/Labs

• Selected exercises from Chapter 1-8 of Karel J Robot.

• Create HBot class to create the letter “H” from beepers. Have the students compose various improvements to make the program more object oriented.

• Build on basic programs to show object-oriented programming techniques.

• Sections of homework assignments from the www.apcomputerscience.com website.

Weeks 8-11

Java Basics, Introduction to Classes and OOP, Strings

Objectives

• Source, bytecode, compilers, interpreters, Java virtual machine, platform independence

• Understand computer ethics

• Have knowledge of computer software and hardware components, operating systems

• Learn to use basic input and output (Scanner class and System.out.println)

• Understand primitive data types

• Demonstrate the assignment statement

• Understand arithmetic operators, ArithmeticException error, precedence, casting/promotion

• Use java.lang.Math (abs, pow, sqrt, random) static methods

• Understand parameter passing terminology and concepts

• Learn about String class, concatenation, length method, object references

• Be able to program using iteration logic (if/else, while, for statements)

• Understand objects, classes (subsclasses, superclasses, interfaces), and methods

• Use programming syntax conventions (camel case, indentions, comments, etc.)

• Understand the following terminology: constructor, accessor method, mutator method, instance variable, data encapsulation, information hiding, and procedural abstraction

• Understand the difference between public and private access in a class

• Write classes from scratch, choosing appropriate data representation

• Understand how to declare a method and declare parameters in that method

• Understand the use of preconditions, postconditions and assertions when designing methods

• Understand the difference between OOP development and top- down development

Teaching Strategies

I will give a general overview of computer hardware, networks and software. Computer ethics will also be discussed and we will talk about the school’s acceptable use policy, then go to the Web and look at the ACM’s code of ethics. An assortment of programs will be assigned to the students to demonstrate the various Java basic concepts.

Whenever appropriate, we will build from simple programs and modify them as different topics are discussed. Programming conventions will be stressed and labs will be a primary learning tool during this section.

Iteration logic will be introduced.

References/Readings

Java Concepts, Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6.

Assignments/Labs

Students are given a program that draws a sequence of differently colored rectangles and they are asked to modify the code so that the result will be a sequence of rectangles that gradually changes in color from the color of the first to the color of the last. The algorithm to blend the correct color for each rectangle requires the students to use proportions based on the distance each rectangle is from the first and last rectangles.

•

Weeks 12-13

Arrays and Array Lists

Objectives

• Understand the usage of arrays

• Understand the usage of array lists and the differences between arrays and array lists

• Use the enhanced for loop

• Design simple array algorithms

• Understand how to declare, construct, initialize, and index arrays/ArrayList

• Learn how to store primitives and objects in arrays/ArrayList

• Understand how to traverse, insert, and delete array/ArrayList elements

• Show how to pass arrays and ArrayLists to methods

• Understand Wrapper classes—Double, Integer

• Understand the concepts of casting, ClassCastException, ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException

• Demonstrate two-dimensional arrays and how to copy arrays

Teaching Strategies

The usage and syntax of arrays and array lists will be demonstrated and discussed in the classroom. Students will be given progressively more complicated programming assignments to build on their

knowledge of defining arrays, populating arrays, and then

manipulating the arrays. Typical class days will be split between lecture and lab work, but will be more heavily focused on hands-on work.

I end with Simon. The students program a game; similar to the hand held game that takes repeating and increasing patterns that they have to match. This forces the students to deal with an array of objects.

References/Readings

Java Concepts, Chapter 7

Assignments/Labs

• Exercises from chapter 7 of Java Concepts.

• Write a program that measures the frequencies with which each letter of the alphabet occurs in a file.

• Given a program that draws one equilateral triangle, write a program that draws a Sierpinski gasket (a figure that contains nested triangles).

• Design a class that models a fraction and arithmetic with rational numbers.

• Simon - game similar to handheld game with an increasing repeating pattern

Weeks 14-16

Interfaces, Polymorphism, Inheritance

Objectives

• Understand Interfaces and how they are used for code reuse

• Be able to convert between class and interface types

• Explain the concept of polymorphism

• Give an introduction to Inheritance

• Construct a subclass

• Convert between subclass and superclass types

Teaching Strategies

Students will be exposed to the object-oriented concepts of interfaces, polymorphism, and inheritance through example programs. By the end of this section, the students will have a clear understanding of the differences between these concepts and will know the most

appropriate situations in which to use them. The overriding teaching strategy for this unit will be the demonstration of classes and having the students learn by writing/improving their programs.

References/Readings

Java Concepts, Chapter 9, 10.

Assignments/Labs

Exercises from chapter 9-10 of Java Concepts.

Weeks 17-18

GridWorld Case Study – Part 1 (Introduction)

Objectives

• Cover Part 1 of the GridWorld Case Study

• Run the GridWorld project and discuss the interaction of large classes

• Understand the Bug class, Runner class, and Grid interface

• Understand Information hiding

• Extend the Bug class and create a different actor

Teaching Strategies

My strategy is to get the students exposed to the GridWorld case study early in the school year. One of the main goals of this section is to show them the GridWorld classes and explain their relationships to each other. The students will be asked to design some object-oriented programming code and implement it. They will get used to testing the code and gradually gain the confidence in programming techniques.

This work will build upon the experience they have with the Karel J.

Robot project and the basic Java logic.

References/Readings

GridWorld Case Study (required material for the AP Exam)

Assignments/Labs

Exercises from Chapter 11 of Java Concepts to reinforce Strings and Files (with Java 5.0’s Scanner class)

Weeks 19-20

GridWorld Case Study – Part 2 (Bug variations)

Objectives

• Understand intercommunicating objects

• Learn about Inheritance

• Use Interfaces (Comparable, Locatable) and Abstract classes

• Understand array basics

• Understand data structure design and selection

Teaching Strategies

In order for the students to get a grasp on how the objects communicate with one

another, I facilitate a scripted role-playing exercise. This is an effective way to

enable students to see the big picture without looking at too much code. Seeing

and acting out the object responsibilities will help students internalize the complex

intercommunication. I like to be creative and let everyone have fun with it.

References/Readings

GridWorld Case Study Part 2 Java Concepts, Chapters 5, 6, 7

Assignments/Labs

Exercise sets in Part 2 of the GridWorld Case Study

Week 21-22

Array Sorting, Searching, Insertions, and Recursion

Objectives

• Learn about insertion and selection sorts

• Understand sequential versus binary searching

• Introduction to some friendly Big-Oh ideas

• Revisit recursion

Teaching Strategies

While working with the traditional sorts and searches, I introduce some simple

Big-Oh concepts and counting. Big-Oh is not part of the AP CS A Exam, but the

counting of statements being executed is a part. I have the students count comparisons

done while sorting and then graph the results. We discover why comparisons/

operations relevant to the dataset size are used as a benchmark as opposed to

execution speed. I also use the algorithms that they have studied up to now (e.g.,

reading data, common array algorithms) into their respective Big-Oh family.

This is a good place to work recursion back into the course, since I we can explore

further how the linear and binary searches can be written both iteratively and

recursively.

References/Readings

Java Concepts, Chapters 3, 11 Big-Oh handout

The xSortLab Applet http://math.hws.edu/TMCM/java/xSortLab

Assignments/Labs

• Worksheets and sample source code—sorting, searching, recursion, counting iterations, analysis

• Exercises from Chapters 3, 11 of Java Concepts.

Weeks 23-26

GridWorld Case Study – Part 3 (Classes and Interfaces) and Part 4 (Critters)

Objectives

• Further understanding of inheritance and polymorphism

• Refined data structure/algorithm selection and design

• Feel very comfortable with the Case Study

Teaching Strategies

By this point in the year, students have an excellent knowledge of the Java language

and object-oriented principles and can dive into these last chapters and have fun.

Culminating the year with the Case Study is helpful because it will be fresh in their mind while taking the AP Exam. This is a great time to give students more practice with selecting and designing data structures and algorithms on their own. Within the context of the GridWorld Case Study there are many lab ideas that will help them further hone their data structure and algorithm design skills. The main idea is to have them working within the many classes and to become extremely comfortable with where things are at and how they work.

References/Readings

GridWorld Case Study Parts 3 and 4 Java Concepts, Chapters 5, 6, 7

Assignments/Labs

• Exercise sets in Part 3 and 4 of the GridWorld Case Study

• Selected labs for GridWorld

Weeks 27–29

Review for AP Exam

Objectives

• Ensure students know what is coming on the AP Exam

• Earn a 5 on the AP Exam

Teaching Strategies

I will make the students aware of what they should expect on a typical AP Exam. They will practice using sample questions.

Post-Exam

Computer Science Project

Objectives

• Reinforce the concepts learned in this course

• Design and develop a computer science on their own

Teaching Strategies

Each student will select a project on their own, which I will approve.

They will design a program, write the code for it, and then demonstrate it to the class. Most of the time during these weeks will be spent in labs.

References/Readings

To be determined by the student

Assignments/Labs

• The assignment will be the approved computer science project itself.