AP Computer Science Principles

This article is part of the Advanced Placement series.
General exam structure • Awards
Current subjects:
Art History Biology Calculus (AB & BC) Chemistry Chinese Language and Culture Comparative Government & Politics Computer Science A Computer Science Principles English Language & Composition English Literature & Composition Environmental Science European History French Language German Language Human Geography Italian Language and Culture Japanese Language and Culture Latin Macroeconomics Microeconomics Music Theory Physics 1: Algebra-based Physics 2: Algebra-based Physics C: Mechanics Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Psychology Research (Second part of AP Capstone program) Seminar (First part of AP Capstone program) Spanish Language Spanish Literature Statistics Studio Art (2-D, 3-D, & Drawing) U.S. History U.S. Government & Politics World History
In development:
Russian Language and Culture
Former subjects:
Computer Science AB French Literature German Literature Latin: Vergil Latin Literature Physics B

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 and end of course exam as well as the creation of artifacts throughout the course.^[2]

AP Computer Science Principles

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.^[3]

AP Computer Science Principles 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

AP Computer Science Principles 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
  - Collaborative Program: Source Code PDF and Video
  - Individual Program: Source Code PDF and Video
  - Collaborative Reflection : 300 words
  - Individual Reflection : 300 words
  - Evaluate, Archive and Present Task

End-of-Course AP Exam ^[2]

The exam will use paper and pencil.
It will last 120 minutes and will include approximately 74 items.
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 for AP Computer Science Principles

The AP Computer Science Principles Exam will be administered for the first time in spring of 2016. As a result, there is currently no grade distribution.

Curriculum for AP Computer Science Principles

Curriculum	Course Delivery	Programming Language / Environment	Availability/License	Support
The Beauty and Joy of Computing ^[9]	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 ^[10]	Web Based Student Content	App Inventor	Available for Download at No Cost	Free Online Instructor Led
OpenCSP ^[11]	Web Based Student Content Canvas LMS Moodle LMS Printable Student Content	Python, Javascript, App Inventor, Tableau, Unity, Others...	Available for Download at No Cost Creative Commons License	Free Online Instructor Led Paid Online Instructor Led Free Online Self Paced
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

References

↑ AP Computer Science Principles Home Page, The College Board
1 2 AP Computer Science Principles About The Exam Page, The College Board
↑ "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.
↑ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
↑ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
↑ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
↑ "AP Computer Science Principles Draft Performance Tasks" (PDF). College Board. December 2013. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
↑ "AP Computer Science Principles Draft Performance Tasks" (PDF). College Board. December 2013. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
↑ "BJC - Beauty and Joy of Computing". BJC - Beauty and Joy of Computing. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
↑ "Mobile CS". Mobile CSP. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
↑ "OpenCSP". Open Source AP Computer Science Principles Project. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
↑ "THRIVING IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD: AP". THRIVING IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD: AP. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
↑ "PLTW CSP". Project Lead The Way. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
↑ "Code.org CSP". Code.org. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
↑ "CS50 AP". CS50 AP. Retrieved 22 February 2016.

External links

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