Computer Science 1 Pre-AP Syllabus
2015-2016
Instructor Information
Instructor
Email
Office Location & Hours
Tapu Ahmed
tahmed@dentonisd.org
B203, M-F from 8:00am –
8:30am
General Information
Description
Introduce students to the basic concepts of technology and how computers behave.
PreAP classes follow the same syllabus as CS1 but face far more challenging exams and
labs.
Expectations and Goals
All students are to be able to demonstrate basic understanding of problems solving,
analytical thinking, and programming style in the computerized world. Students must
also demonstrate an understanding of how technology advances and how our society is
affected with the advent of technology. The following syllabus is consistent with the
TEKS standard.
Course Materials
Required Materials
All materials are provided in the lab, there is no textbook associated with this course.
Course Schedule
1st Quarter
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Number Theory: analyze the different number theories behind decimal, octal, and
hex number systems.
Introduction to parts of a computer, understand what the different parts of a
computer does. Analyze CPU, RAM, motherboard, heat sink, external peripherals.
Page 1
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Introduction to operating systems. Learn the basics of an operating system and
how they behave and accomplish tasks.
Introduction to network systems. Learn the basics of a network and how they
work. Understand internet packets and protocols that run within these networks.
Talk about programming languages and how they work. Start understanding how a
computer understands instructions.
Basics of a compiler, in particular the Java compiler
2nd Quarter
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Introduction to algorithms. Understand how a computer follows a sequence of
instructions.
Understand and utilize flow charts to solve basic problems.
Introduction to Java basics. Learn to write pseudocode.
Learn basic variable declaration and mathematical operations/operators.
Utilize the math class.
Utilize the String class.
Utilize the Scanner class.
Utilize basic input/output.
Introduction to writing methods in java.
Learn techniques to debug and modify existing written code.
3rd Quarter
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Introduction to advanced algorithms. Understand how a computer can follow
multiple sequences of instructions.
Learn branching and conditional statements depending on input and operation
result. Branching syntax and understanding conditional statements are critical
here.
Utilize the various loops. Looping syntax and understanding various looping
techniques are key elements here.
Introduction to Arrays. Understand what an array is and how they function.
Student must also understand how we access and manipulate an array.
Introduction to advanced methods. Students must be able to form their own
methods. They should show an ability to pass parameters and use return types.
4th Quarter
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Introduction to object oriented programming.
Page 2
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Student should understand the basics and the advantages to the objected oriented
approach versus other styles of design.
Understand the declaration of a class and how it works.
Understand the concepts of data encapsulation and information hiding.
Show the ability to declare an object and manipulate the object’s values.
Introduction to a class’s methods: constructors, accessors, mutators.
Show an understanding of a how a constructor initializes an object.
Show an understanding of how mutator and accessor methods can be utilized.
Students must understand how class privacy works as well, and the difference
between private, public and protected variables and methods.
Introduction to class arrays. This is classes and the idea of arrays married
together.
Use Java to manipulate files. Show basic understanding of reading, modifying,
creating, and deleting existing files.
Page 3