“Computer Science is a liberal art: it’s something that everybody should be exposed to and everyone should have a mastery of to some extent.” — Steve Jobs
Computer science (CS) drives job growth and innovation throughout our economy and society. Computing occupations are the number 1 source of all new wages in the U.S. and make up two-thirds of all projected new jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields, making Computer Science one of the most in-demand college degrees. And computing is used all around us and in virtually every field. It’s foundational knowledge that all students need. But computer science is marginalized throughout education. Fewer than half of U.S. schools offer any computer science courses.
In California there are 68,352 open computing jobs (3.5x the state average demand rate) but only 3,525 CS graduates. Despite the need, California currently does not require all high schools to offer CS and there are no K-12 CS curriculum standards. (Source: code.org)
Faith Christian School recognizes the need for computer science skills and begins formal instruction in 2nd grade. Beginning in Fall 2017, all FCHS students will be required to take one computer class (currently an elective) and we are adding AP Computer Science Principles to our high school course offerings!
Current computer science curriculum by grade:
Typing course, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; and coding using Microsoft Small Basic
Typing, advanced Microsoft Word, advanced PowerPoint, and advanced Excel
- Very advanced Microsoft Word, very advanced PowerPoint, and very advanced Excel
- Advanced Microsoft Small Basic (students are required to program a Tic-Tac-Toe game)
- 2-D Computer-Aided-Drafting using DeltaCAD
- 3-D Computer-Aided-Design using standard of the industry Rhino3D solid modeler, and the Raspberry Pi computer
- AP Computer Science Principles (see below)
AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP)
The AP Program designed AP CSP with the goal of creating leaders in computer science fields and attracting and engaging those who are traditionally underrepresented with essential computing tools and multidisciplinary opportunities.
At Faith, the students will learn, among other things:
- How the Internet works, not just how to use it
- What Octal and Hexadecimal numbering systems are, and why we need to know them
- What a checksum is
- What a hashtag (#) really is
- How to code programs using accepted programming practices
- How to collaborate on programming projects (each writing separate modules, then integrating them together)
- How to use your programming skills to control a robot or maybe a digital sign
- And even possibly, how to build your own “app” for your smart phone