Introduction to Computer Science

Course Syllabus & Modules

Instructor Dashboard

Unit 0 - Foundations and First Steps

Course Outline v0

What is Computer Science?

Setting Up Your Workspace

Your First Program - "Hello World!"

Activity 0.0: Email Communication Check-In

Activity 0.1: An Introduction

Unit 1: Programming Fundamentals

The Basics - Storing and Displaying Information

1.1 — Talking to the Computer (Output)

1.2 — Remembering Things (Variables & Input)

1.3 — Formative Activity: "Code Showcase"

Manipulating Data

1.4 - Python as a Powerful Calculator

1.5: Fixing a Common Bug (Type Casting)

1.7: Importing New Powers (Modules)

1.8: AI as Your Coding Co-Pilot

1.6 Formative Activity - "Exit Ticket"

1.10 Quiz - Core Concepts

Unit 2 - Computer Systems & Software Design

2.1 The Brains: CPU & Motherboard

2.1 The Brains: CPU & Motherboard

2.2 Memory and Storage

2.3 Peripherals & Putting It All Together

2.3 Peripherals & Putting it all Together

2.4 Introduction to Binary

2.5 Binary Practice

2.6 The Software Development Life Cycle

2.6 The Software Development Life Cycle

2.7 Planning with IPO Charts and Pseudocode

2.8 Visualizing Logic with Flowcharts

2.10 Compilers vs. Interpreters

2.10 Compilers and Interpreters

2.9 Algorithm Design Task

Unit 3 - Control Structures

3.1 Booleans & Comparison Operators

3.2 Making Decisions with if Statements

3.3 The if/else Statement

3.4 The if/elif/else Statement

3.6 Combining Conditions

3.7 Repeating Code with while Loops

3.8 Looping a Specific Number of Times with for Loops

3.9 Nesting Your Logic

3.5 Formative Activity: The 'Letter Grader'

3.10 Formative Activity - "Times Table Generator"

3.11 Minor Assessment - "Debugging Logic Lab"

3.12: Major Assessment - "Guess the Number" Game

Unit 4: Subprograms (Functions)

4.1 What is a Function and Why Use Them?

4.2 Making Functions Smart with Parameters

4.3: Getting Results with return Values

4.4 Documenting Your Functions with Docstrings

4.6 Variable Scope

4.7 Formative Activity - "The Area Calculator" Function

4.5 Formative Skill Drill - "Document a Function"

4.8 Code Tracing & Scope Lab

4.9 Major Assessment - "Simple Calculator" Project

Unit 5 Data Structures

5.1 The Power of Lists

5.2 Accessing List Items with Indexes

5.3 Changing Items and Adding New Ones

5.4 Removing Items from a List

5.5 Processing a List with a for Loop

5.6 Power Tools for Lists

5.7 Formative Activity - "Top 5 List".

5.8 Major Assessment - "List Manager" Project

5.9 Minor Assessment - "List Prediction & Analysis" Lab

Unit 6 Environmental Stewardship

6.1 Environmental Stewardship

6.2 Emerging Technologies & AI Ethics

6.3 Careers in Computer Science

6.4 Tech Impact Reflection

1.10 — Major Assessment: "Mad Libs" Project (10%)

Culminating Activity

The Final Challenge

Resource: Moving from Prototype to Polish

Rubric: Final Project (Reference)

Final Project Overview & Requirements

Culminating Project Journal & Dev Log

Culminating Activity: Final Submission

Final Project (ISP)

Final Project Overview & Requirements

Rubric: Final Project (Reference)

Knowledge Checks