PLTW
COMPUTER
SCIENCE
Unpublished work © 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
1
percent of STEM jobs will involve
computing by 2020
STEM field has seen a reduction in student
participation over last 20 years
percent of college Computer Science majors
report being exposed to CS prior to college
Job Openings
Potential Earnings
5
of the top
12
entry-level
positions are
related to
computer
science
PLTW Computer Science
PLTW K-12 Computer Science
PLTW
Launch
Modules for
K-5
Gateway
Introduction
to Computer
Science
PLTW Computer
Science Program
College,
career,
and
beyond
Launch Computer Science Modules
Short title
Standards alignment
• Animals and Algorithms
• Animated Storytelling
• Grids and Games
• Programming Patterns
Kindergarten
1st grade
2nd grade
3rd grade
• Input/Output: Computer Systems
• Infection: Modeling and Simulation
4th grade
5th grade
Launch Computer Science Modules:
• Each Module has 3 Activities, 1 Project, 1 Problem
• Modules begin with a story - 3 characters are presented with
a problem to solve - real life application for students
• Modules at primary level begin with “hands on” activities –
students are physically engaged in order to understand and
make connections
(they “do,” “see,” and “feel”)
• Use age appropriate apps
•
•
•
•
K-1-2 : Scratch Pad Jr.
3 : Hopscotch
4 : Tynker
5 : SpeedSIM / Tynker
Animals and Algorithms (K)
Problem: Animate an animal’s behavior in their
environment
Scratch Jr.
Programming Building Blocks
K Activity
Animated Storytelling (1st) and Grids and Games
(2nd)
Problems: Create a story with characters that move around and
interact with each other.
Program a game on the tablet through Mathematics
• Students become more aware about how humans control
computers
Programming Patterns (3rd)
Problem: Program an arcade game
• Learn how programmers break big problems into
smaller problems
• Introduced to loops, functions, variables, and
conditionals
• Video tutorials for students on HOPSCOTCH
3rd Grade: Programming Patterns
Hopscotch
Input / Output : Computer Science (4th)
Problem: Create an interactive game that will
collect data as it tests the user’s reactions. This
test can help diagnose a possible concussion.
• Learn how computers are systems of inputs /
outputs and processors that perform tasks
quickly
• Introduced to binary and data collection
Intro. to Binary
Infection: Modeling and Simulation (5th)
Problem: Build a computer model to simulate the
spread of infectious diseases.
• Model, Simulation, and Parameter
• Begin with introduction to simulations (
SPEEDsim ) then move to Tynker to create the
program
SPEEDsim
Tynker
PLTW LAUNCH Computer Science Modules:
- Build on previous learning
~ Present real – life problems to solve
~ Students collaborate and assess their learning
~ Students are asked to reflect
THANK YOU !
PLTW Gateway
• Introduction to Computer Science I
• Introduction to Computer Science II
PLTW Gateway
ICS I MIT App Inventor
PLTW Gateway
ICS II Python
PLTW Computer Science Program
High School Program Overview
Introductory Course
• Introduction to Computer Science (ICS, 1 year)
Foundation Courses
• Computer Science Principles (CSE, 1 year, AP Alignment)
• Computer Science A (CSA, 1 year , AP Alignment)
Specialization Course
• Cybersecurity (SEC, 1 year)
Others may be developed in future
Capstone Course
• Computational Problem Solving (CPS, 1 year)
Computer Science & Software
Engineering (CSE)
Computer Science
Principles
Computer Science Principles
• Can be offered in either PLTW Engineering or
PLTW Computer Science Pathway
– Engineering Specialty Course
– Computer Science Foundation Course
• Developed around the AP CS-P Framework
– Students have the option to sit for the AP CS-P
Exam starting in 2016-17
CSE / CSP Topics
• Algorithm Design and Development
– Scratch
– MIT App Inventor
– Python
• Data Analysis and Visualization
– Python
CSE / CSP Topics
• Web Development
– PHP
– HTML
– JavaScript
MySQL
CSS
Pico CTF
• Modeling and Simulation
– Python
– NetLogo
Computer Science A
(CSA)
Computer Science A
• Computer Science Foundation Course
• Developed around the AP CS-A Framework
– Students have the option to sit for the AP CS-A
Exam starting in 2016-17
• Java Programing Language
CSA Topics
• Basics of Computing
• Object-Oriented
Programming
• Java Style and Syntax
• Algorithms and Basic
Flow Control
• Data Types,Variables,
and Arithmetic
• Conditionals
• Iterative Statements
• Working with Strings
• Class Hierarchies and
Interfaces
• Arrays, Array Lists, and
Multidimensional Arrays
• Searching and Sorting
• Ethics in Computing
Computer Science Courses
In Development
Computer Science Courses
• Cyber Security ( SEC )
– Specialty course
• Computational Problem Solving ( CPS )
– Capstone Course
• More details forthcoming!