1. AP Computer Science: Principles Project Overview

2. AP Computer Science: Principles
Using Computational Thinking to Model a New Course Advanced Placement Computer Science: Principles.
NSF award: $2,093,450 effective September 1, 2009 and expires August 31, 2012.
Principal Investigator: Owen Astrachan, Duke University
Co – PIs:
Amy Briggs, Middlebury College
Lien Diaz, The College Board, AP Program
November 2009

3. AP CS: Principles Not a replacement for the current AP CS A course
Must be a course for which college credit and/or placement is given (AP)
Not designed as a required course for majors
Designed to appeal to a vastly larger and more diverse set of students
November 2009

4. Commission Members Don Allen – Troy HS, CA
Christine Alvarado – Harvey Mudd College
Stacey Armstrong, Cypress Woods High School, TX
Owen Astrachan – Duke University (PI)
Charmaine Bentley – FDR High School, TX
Amy Briggs – Middlebury College (Co-PI)
Rich Kick – Newbury Park HS, CA
Mark Guzdial – Georgia Institute of Technology
Jody Paul – Metropolitan State College of Denver
Chris Stephenson – Executive Director, CSTA
November 2009

5. Advisory Group Members
Duane Bailey – Williams College
Tiffany Barnes – UNC Charlotte
Gail Chapman – Director, Leadership and PD, CSTA
Tom Cortina – Carnegie Mellon University
Stephen Edwards – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Dan Garcia – UC Berkeley
Joanna Goode – University of Oregon
Susanne Hambrusch – Purdue University
Michelle Hutton – President, CSTA
Deepak Kumar – Bryn Mawr College
Jim Kurose – U Mass Amherst
Andrea Lawrence – Spellman College
Richard Pattis – UC Irvine
Eric Roberts – Stanford University
Katie Siek – U Colorado at Boulder
Beth Simon – UC San Diego
Larry Snyder – University of Washington
Lynn Andrea Stein – Olin College
Fran Trees – Drew University
November 2009

6. AP Computer Science: Principles
The overarching goal of the proposed project is to develop a robust curriculum for a new Advanced Placement course—AP Computer Science: Principles—which will focus on computational thinking and fluency and will equate to a parallel introductory college computing experience.
Deliverables:
Development of the AP CS Principles course curriculum.
Design of and preparation for two rounds of pilots.
Conduct a series of pilots in both secondary and post secondary settings.
Develop and pilot prototype, computer-based assessment items.
Project Description
November 2009

7. AP Computer Science: Principles Commission
Develop the Curriculum Framework (Big Ideas, Computational Thinking Practices, Claims and Evidence)
Review project evaluation data (e.g. College Curriculum Study and course pilot data) to revise the Curriculum Framework
Recommend prior knowledge and skills for success in the proposed course
November 2009

8. AP Computer Science: Principles Advisory Group
Review and provide feedback on the Curriculum Framework
Develop draft curricular requirements
Develop an annotated course outline for pilot courses
Recruitment for Pilots
Piloting instructors develop sample syllabi for pilot courses
November 2009

9. AP Computer Science: Principles DRAFT Big Ideas
Computing is a creative human activity that engenders innovation, exploration, and knowledge creation.
Abstraction is the process of reducing information and detail to focus on concepts relevant to understanding and solving problems.
Data and information facilitate the creation of knowledge.
Algorithms are tools for developing and expressing solutions to computational problems and for exploring and creating data.
Programming results in the creation of executable artifacts.
Computer systems and networks enable and foster communication and innovation
Computing enables innovation in other fields.
November 2009

10. Overview of Project Evaluation
Year 1: Develop the Curriculum Framework
Determine the project’s success criteria
Refinement of external evaluation protocol, evaluative questions, evaluation plan
Data collection and analysis for Curriculum Framework
Years 2-3: Course Piloting, Item Prototypes
Planning and data collection for piloting, item prototype development
Analysis of piloting results (process, outcomes, item prototypes)
The evaluation effort will provide both formative and summative feedback on the success of the project. Through evaluative data collection within key project phases, evaluative results will help determine the success of the new AP CS Principles Course:
As intended by the AP CS: Principles Commission (e.g., attractiveness to computer science faculty)
As implemented in a number of pilot testing sites
As learned by students (via surveys and item prototype measures)
November 2009

11. Sample of Evaluative Questions:
How can the AP CS Principles Domain Model be developed so that the proposed course emphasizes the fundamental concepts of computational thinking and fluency without being programming centric while at the same time maintaining the high level of college-equivalent rigor expected for AP courses?
To what extent will the proposed AP CS Principles course increase students’ interest, motivation and confidence in pursuing further coursework in computer science and other STEM fields particularly among traditionally under-represented students?
Refinement of evaluation questions are still in process.
This is a 3 year research project so many questions will not be answered until the research is complete.
November 2009

12. AP Computer Science: Principles Proposed Timeline
2009
2010
2011
2012
Commission Meeting:
Revise Claims/Evidence
Commission Meetings:
Curriculum Framework
Commission
Final Commission Meeting Co
Meetings with Commission
Pilot 1 Meeting
Pilot 2 Meeting
Advisory
Group
Pilot 1:
5 colleges
Pilot 2:
10 colleges, 5 high schools
Development of
Pilot materials
Project Evaluation (includes Pilot data, Prototype item data)
Evaluation
College Curriculum Study
Prototype Item Development
2 Meetings
Item Tryouts
(25-30)
Item Tryouts
November 2009