Analysis and Comparison is ICS4U AP Computer Science A Analysis and Comparison is ICS4U

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 ICS4U 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 Java Basics Object Oriented Concepts Doesn't test any I/O ( GUI or Files ) Object Oriented Concepts Encapsulation, Polymorphism, Inheritance Interfaces, abstract classes, simple UML

AP Topics Data Structures I Data Structures II 1 dimensional arrays ArrayLists Data Structures II 2 dimensional arrays Traversals including for-each (iterator) techniques

AP Topics Searching and Sorting Sorts Searching 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, 3rd edition, Stuart Reges and Marty Stepp A Guide to Programming in Java, 3rd 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.peerinstruction4cs.org/

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

Assignment and equals operators SOLO VOTE (30 secs) Discuss in team (1 min) GROUP VOTE (20 sec) Assignment and equals operators What is the output of this code? A) 3 5 C) 3 false int x = 3; int y = 2; System.out.println(x = 3); int z = x + y; System.out.println(z); B) true 5 D) true false Big Idea: The idea of = being a right to left “assignment” is hard – that it doesn’t reach back in time to affect other values (rather than a traditional sort of mathematical interpretation of assignment. Also the issue of == producing a boolean value. Correct Answer and Why: B The first print is the result of a boolean expression evaluation using == -> resulting in true. The second print 5 since the previous statement adds 3 + 2 and puts the value 5 into z. Using a Tablet PC or iPad, I draw arrows showing the right to left “movement” or assignment patterns. Incorrect Answers and Why: If students don’t understand or ignore the == part, or didn’t read about booleans they figure 3 is the closest reasonable answer C) Not a very reasonable choice (maybe a better distractor could be used) – though you could ask what prints statement could be written to create this D) Not a very reasonable choice (maybe a better distractor could be used) – though you could ask what prints statement could be written to create this

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