The Curriculum
Technology
T-210 Practical Computing
Spring .25 unit Leibson
This course is designed for students who want to master the use of their personal laptop or tablet PC. Topics covered include discovering what the computer can do, customizing the desktop and user experience, sharing documents and songs legally while protecting privacy, keeping intruders and malicious software at bay, knowing what's stored on (filling up) the hard drive and what's running on (slowing down) the computer, and moving data on and off the computer. A personal tablet or wireless laptop (Mac or PC) is required.
Open to: 9/10/11/12
T-211 Community Planning and Design
Spring .25 unit McCorkle
This is a project course. Using publicly available tools and data, the "residents" of this class design a sustainable community. Students are grouped into different constituencies working together to create their community. The instructor provides key readings, tool training, census and environmental data. Guest presenters (live and on-line) present a survey of current thinking concerning sustainable development. Using their imagination and problem-solving skills, students design an appropriate community. Course evaluation is based upon the calculated footprint (carbon and otherwise) of the community. The class works with the instructor to establish course evaluation goals during the first week of the semester.
Open to: 9/10/11/12
T-220 Introduction to Programming
Fall .5 unit McCorkle
The goal of this introductory course is to provide students who are new to computer programming with a strong understanding of the logic that goes into programming a computer. Students tinker with robots, design a world of their own populated by ice skating penguins or flaming turkeys, and finally, they are introduced to more sobering topics using the Python computer language. Introduction to Programming provides a solid conceptual foundation for those students considering future technology electives.
Open to: 9/10/11/12
T-225 Gaming
Spring .5 unit McCorkle
Gaming is a logical next step for students who have taken Introduction to Programming (T-220). During the semester student teams design and build simple computer games using the Python computer language. Students also have the opportunity to extend more complex games that have been developed by others. In addition to computer coding, the process involved in the development and delivery of games is emphasized. Students engage in each step of the process from identifying initial requirements to design development to game testing. During the final week of the semester, games are made available to Emma students and faculty. Emma students are asked to vote for the "best" game. Students should complete the class with an understanding of what it takes to design, build, and market a computer game.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Programming (T-220)
Open to: 9/10/11/12
T-333 AP Computer Science
Year 1.5 unit McCorkle
This challenging course is singularly focused on preparing students for the AP Computer Science A examination. Particular attention is paid to the AP exam's required case study, "Gridworld." The Java computer language is used exclusively during the course, and students work closely with the data structures and algorithms that form the core of computer science. The class involves a mixture of lecture and individual/group project work. Ideally, students who enroll in this course should have previous computer programming experience.
Prerequisites: Geometry (M-225), prior programming experience is encouraged
Open to: 11/12
