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Policy and Procedures for APCSP - Getting the grade
Teacher/Facilitator and email: Ms. Mathis – [email protected] . Email is by far the best way for parents to communicate with Ms. Mathis. It is also the best way to have documentation when students are seeking extra assistance outside the classroom hours.
Course Description: AP Computer Science Principles
The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to be equivalent to a first semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course is unique in its focus on fostering student creativity. Students are encouraged to apply creative processes when developing computational artifacts and to think creatively while using computer software and other technology to explore questions that interest them. They will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills, working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and discussing and writing about the importance of these problems and the impacts to their community, society, and the world.
This course will be comprised of 7 units of instruction, sequenced as follows:
The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to be equivalent to a first semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course is unique in its focus on fostering student creativity. Students are encouraged to apply creative processes when developing computational artifacts and to think creatively while using computer software and other technology to explore questions that interest them. They will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills, working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and discussing and writing about the importance of these problems and the impacts to their community, society, and the world.
This course will be comprised of 7 units of instruction, sequenced as follows:
- Computational Thinking
- Programming
- Data Representation
- Digital Media Processing
- Big Data
- Innovative Technologies
- Performance Tasks
Methodology:
APCSP students will experience a combination of modeling, class discussion, videos, research and problem-based learning. The goals are to be able to code computational programs, research technological advances noting the pros and possible cons of these advances, and creating individual projects based on the understanding and application of concepts learned.
Grades will be determined by the satisfactory and timely completion of assignments. Most assignments will have the criteria listed for a quality score and can be found as a rubric/checklist. All information will be made available to students through Microsoft TEAMS which includes all assignments, readings and other resource materials.
In-Class Assignments: When assignments are listed on the TEAMS site and in FOCUS, it is possible to see the assignment date and the due date next to the assignment name and description. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the deadline. Unless otherwise noted, assignments should be completed in class on the day in which it is assigned.
Missing Work: On occasion, there may be instances where a student misses a due date. This should be a rare occasion due to the need to stay up to date and not fall behind and become so lost that is difficult to recover.
When a student is seeing an “M” in the grade book, it is due to the student not having the work/product available to grade when Ms. Mathis goes to grade it. A dated comment will be given and the status of the grade.
Example:
“As of 8/20, no evidence of work uploaded to Teams” or “As of 4/16, document is not uploaded to FOCUS.”
Redeeming Missing Work: A responsible student who wants to earn partial credit for a MISSING assignment must do so in the following manner.
If the above protocol is not followed, the work/product will not be reviewed by Ms. Mathis. Because this is an extra work load on Ms. Mathis to grade, any emailed updates will be graded as time allows. This will not be a priority grading item.
Grading Scale
There will be many ways on which the student is graded. Not everything is on a 100-point scale. The student’s overall grade is based on total points earned over total points possible. Generally speaking, student engagement and assignments are 5-10 points, informal assessments are 10 – 25 points, formal assessments and projects are 50 points and tests are 100 points. As long as a student is making the most of their time in class, there is generally no need for homework. Anything that is not completed in class is considered homework and is expected to be completed before the next class unless otherwise indicated.
Materials necessary for this course:
APCSP students will experience a combination of modeling, class discussion, videos, research and problem-based learning. The goals are to be able to code computational programs, research technological advances noting the pros and possible cons of these advances, and creating individual projects based on the understanding and application of concepts learned.
Grades will be determined by the satisfactory and timely completion of assignments. Most assignments will have the criteria listed for a quality score and can be found as a rubric/checklist. All information will be made available to students through Microsoft TEAMS which includes all assignments, readings and other resource materials.
In-Class Assignments: When assignments are listed on the TEAMS site and in FOCUS, it is possible to see the assignment date and the due date next to the assignment name and description. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the deadline. Unless otherwise noted, assignments should be completed in class on the day in which it is assigned.
Missing Work: On occasion, there may be instances where a student misses a due date. This should be a rare occasion due to the need to stay up to date and not fall behind and become so lost that is difficult to recover.
When a student is seeing an “M” in the grade book, it is due to the student not having the work/product available to grade when Ms. Mathis goes to grade it. A dated comment will be given and the status of the grade.
Example:
“As of 8/20, no evidence of work uploaded to Teams” or “As of 4/16, document is not uploaded to FOCUS.”
Redeeming Missing Work: A responsible student who wants to earn partial credit for a MISSING assignment must do so in the following manner.
- Student must complete the work IN FULL within 8 days of the due date (If the due date was Aug 20, the work must be completed before Aug 28.)
- Student must email completed work to Ms. Mathis ([email protected]) within 8 days of the due date. Exceptions will need to be discussed IN PERSON outside class time.
- Email work using the student email address which comprises of the student number. A student email will appear as s########@students.duvalschools.org where ######### is the student number
- Type the title of the assignment in the subject line, so Ms. Mathis knows for which assignment this work represents (this includes projects or online assignments)
- Write a message in the body of the email explaining why the work is late and how the student chooses to make sure this is not a continuing issue. The message should also include this statement:
- Attach the work/product or if it is an online assignment, a screen shot of your results to the email
If the above protocol is not followed, the work/product will not be reviewed by Ms. Mathis. Because this is an extra work load on Ms. Mathis to grade, any emailed updates will be graded as time allows. This will not be a priority grading item.
Grading Scale
There will be many ways on which the student is graded. Not everything is on a 100-point scale. The student’s overall grade is based on total points earned over total points possible. Generally speaking, student engagement and assignments are 5-10 points, informal assessments are 10 – 25 points, formal assessments and projects are 50 points and tests are 100 points. As long as a student is making the most of their time in class, there is generally no need for homework. Anything that is not completed in class is considered homework and is expected to be completed before the next class unless otherwise indicated.
Materials necessary for this course:
- Composition notebook – 100 pages BOUND – no spiral notebooks. These will be our Abstraction Journals. Students will need to take notes and provide reasoning for their thinking.
- Blue pen – several research studies state students who take notes in BLUE pen allow for more creativity and thought processes thus improving retention of content.
- Earbuds/headphones – cheap $5.00 headphones are required as there will be activities where students will need to improve their listening skills (a skill that is tested on the FSA) as well as complete more independent work that will be given through video. It is better that the student has his/her own pair for health/hygienic reasons. The student will keep the earbuds/headphones; they will not be housed in the classroom.
- OPTIONAL – I know I tend to have some artistic students who enjoy using colored pencils. Although not mandatory, it might be helpful to those who see their notes better in various colors.