AP Computer Science Principles

This AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) class uses the CompuScholar Computer Science Foundations[1] curriculum as the primary resource. It is taught as a one-year (two-semester) sequence and covers all required topics in the “Computer Science Principles” course description published by the College Board. The Python language is taught as the basis for programming topics.

Students need to have typical computer usage skills prior to starting this course. Other introductory programming courses are not required. All required concepts are taught from the ground up in a fun, step-by-step manner. The course includes uses a variety of multimedia content such as full-color, interactive text, narrated instructional videos, and guided exercises. Strong emphasis is placed on hands-on programming labs to demonstrate mastery of lesson concepts.

This course is fully aligned with the AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description. This allows teachers to easily leverage the additional material and practice questions in the AP Classroom.

Chapters 1 – 22 should be completed in sequence and cover all required topics on the AP CSP exam, plus certain other highly recommended software skills. These chapters include substantial, hands-on lab work and guidance on the CSP “performance task” and exam preparation.

Typical classes will finish all required AP CSP content prior to the exam administration in May. We recommend using the remaining time before the exam to review the College Board’s published practice exams and any other external source of practice problems. Students should also be given sufficient time to complete the performance task.

Chapters 23 – 29 contain optional topics that are not required for AP CSP. Teachers may review and select any of these optional topics for students as time permits after the AP CSP exam.

Supplemental Chapters contain a variety of enrichment topics that may be required by individual states to satisfy requirements for other coding or digital literacy courses.

Semester A Outline:

Chapter 1: Computing Concepts

Chapter 2: Networking

Chapter 3: Fundamentals of Python

Chapter 4: Working with Data

Chapter 5: Input and Output

Chapter 6: Making Decisions

Chapter 7: Finding and Fixing Problems

Chapter 8: Loops

Chapter 9: Lists

Chapter 10: Math Concepts

Chapter 11: Working with Strings

Chapter 12: Creating Functions

Chapter 13: Mid-Term Project

Semester B Outline:

Chapter 14: Collaborative Design and Development

Chapter 15: Designing Algorithms

Chapter 16: Real-World Algorithms

Chapter 17: Understanding Data

Chapter 18: Impact of Computing

Chapter 19: Legal and Ethical Concerns

Chapter 20: Cybersecurity

Chapter 21: Preparing for the CSP Exam

Chapter 22: CSP Performance Task

Chapter 23: Creating Web Pages

Chapter 24: Web Page Design

Chapter 25: Links, Images and Animation

Chapter 26: Operating Systems

Chapter 27: Computer Files

Chapter 28: Search Engines

Chapter 29: Computer Careers

This course uses the following electronic textbook: [1] Computer Science Foundations online text, by CompuScholar, Inc. 2022, ISBN 978-1-946113-02-3.

This course uses an in-browser Python coding environment. This online feature may be used by students to complete all exercises and activities in all required AP chapters.