AP Computer Science Principles

The college board offers an Advanced Placement Computer Science examination and course to students in high school. This course is known as the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles (also known as AP CSP or AP CS Principles) gives the students a chance to earn some college credit. The college credit aids in doing a Computer Science course at the college level.  AP CSP is an introductory-level course designed for all students. A school year studying computer science will help you learn and grow by applying your ideas to create real-life solutions. The Advanced Placement Computer Science principles build an understanding of computers in students in different ways: engaging them to work with data, develop computer programs, collaborating to find a solution to problems, explore concepts that include data and information, abstraction, creativity, programming, algorithms, the global impact of computing, internet, etc.

Advantages of Learning Advanced Placement in Computer Science Principles

The course helps you to deal with real-world issues with tools that artists, engineers writers use. Some of the benefits of doing this course are listed below.

• Boost confidence while solving real-world problems.
• Gain skills that can apply to far-reaching interests and fields.
• Build advanced programs while working in a team with your classmates.
• Enhance your creativity by giving practical shape to your ideas.
• Share the products you have and display your gain in learning.
• Use technology to help society.

Course Content

The Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles course is divided into seven major ideas. These ideas can be represented below.

These can be explained in the following manner.

Big Idea 1: Creativity

• Learn to use a creative process to make an animation, video, audio recording, infographic, program, etc.

 Big Idea 2: Abstraction

• Learn to use programming and data abstractions to manage complexity and build programs.
• Use simulations and models to test the hypothesis post developing it and represent a phenomenon.

Big Idea 3: Data and Information

• Learn to use various computational techniques to convert raw data into useful information or extract information from massive data.

Big Idea 4: Algorithms

• Develop algorithms and implement them in some computer language.
• Learn to examine algorithms empirically and scientifically.

Big Idea 5: Programming

• Learn to create a program to find a solution, create new findings, or to express your creativity.
• Further, learn to solve the bugs in the program and resolve them.

Big Idea 6: The Internet

• Learn about working of the internet.
• Gain knowledge about the features of the internet and scrutinize web concerns like cybersecurity.

Big Idea 7: Global Impact

• Gain insight into how computing enhances human cognition, communication, and interaction.
• Explore how computing has driven innovation in other fields.
• Examine the pros and cons of computing in varied situations.

The preparation of the course is such that it makes the students think with logic and reasoning and develop thinking skills that are used by computer scientists. Some of the skills imparted in this course are as follows.

• Designing programs as a solution to a problem.
• Finding the connection between various computing concepts.
• Analyzing all the computer-related work.
• Working in collaboration to find a solution to problems.
• Share technology and computer-related ideas.

Assessment

The two parts of conducting the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles assessment are:

1. Completion of two performance tasks during the tenure of the course, which is one year, and must be submitted online for achieving scores through the AP Digital Portfolio.

2. AP Exam is at the end of the course. 

They measure the understanding and hold of the course and form a part of the final score ranging from 1-5.