AP Computer Science A Analysis and Comparison is

AP Computer Science A Analysis and Comparison is ICS 4 U

Advanced Placement (AP CS A Exam) • https: //apstudent. collegeboard. org/apcourse/ap-computer-science-a • Focus is on Java language not generic CS topics • Content • Section 1 - 40 MC questions 1 Hour and 15 minutes • Section 2 - 4 free-response questions 1 Hour and 45 minutes • Most content covered is already in ICS 4 U curriculum • Note: New AP CS Principles course has been approved but not yet offered

AP CS Principles (coming soon) https: //apstudent. collegeboard. org/apcourse/ap-computer-science-principles • Various Languages can be used to teach concepts

AP Topics 1. Java Basics • Doesn't test any I/O ( GUI or Files ) 2. Object Oriented Concepts • Encapsulation, Polymorphism, Inheritance • Interfaces, abstract classes, simple UML

AP Topics 3. Data Structures I • 1 dimensional arrays • Array. Lists 4. Data Structures II • 2 dimensional arrays • Traversals including for-each (iterator) techniques

AP Topics 5. Searching and Sorting • Sorts • Selection, Insertion, Merge Sort • Searching • Linear, Binary • Recursive algorithms and simple analysis of algorithms

AP Resources • Test Structure and Content was revised in 2015 • Removed case study and includes sample student labs • Labs • Magpie (basics) • Elevens (OO design card game) • Picture Lab (2 dimensional array processing)

AP Resources • Textbooks • Java Methods, Gary and Maria Litvin • Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach, 3 rd edition, Stuart Reges and Marty Stepp • A Guide to Programming in Java, 3 rd edition, Jan Marelli

Peer Instruction (PI) - Pedagogy Started by Eric Mazur (Physics Professor at Harvard) Overview of Technique Computer Science Educators are being successful using same technique • http: //www. peerinstruction 4 cs. org/

Peer Instruction (PI) Show a Multiple Choice questions at beginning of class 1. Students answer individually (Google Form or clicker) 2. Students discuss with others 3. Students re-answer after discussion with others

1) SOLO VOTE (30 secs) 2) Discuss in team (1 min) 3) GROUP VOTE (20 sec) Assignment and equals operators What is the output of this code? int x = 3; int y = 2; System. out. println(x = 3); int z = x + y; System. out. println(z); A) 3 5 C) 3 false B) true 5 D) true false

AP Resources • Textbook and Practice Material • Barron's AP Computer Science A, 7 th edition, Roselyn Teukolsky • Time to do some practice barronsbooks. com/AP/compsci/ap_computer_science. html