A+ Computer Science Materials
What is NEW for 2012-2013?

NEW - Games / Graphics / Cross-Curricular Projects - Cross-curricular projects have been added.  New game projects for Java Graphics, GridWorld, and Scratch have been included.


NEW - www.practice.apluscompsci.com
    This is an online site loaded with LIVE Programming problems.  
    Students can solve probelms in Java or in Python and teachers can    
    login to track student progress. This site will have hundreds    
    of problems for students to solve online.  
         visit  www.practice.apluscompsci.com

NEW - Updated / Expanded Tests -  New questions have been added to     all tests.  All examview and Moodle tests banks have been                     expanded with new questions added.  Tests will inlcude an AP styled     mutliplce-choice version as well as a Free Response section.         
    Contest versions are also included.

NEW - Java 7.0 -  Any new features of Java 7.0 that will be tested by AP will be included in all curriculum materials.  Contest materails will also be updated to included featurest of Java 7.0 deemed testable.  Some features not tested, but deemed usefull will also be added.  
Read about the new Java 7.0 Features

  • Expanded Projects - MORE Games and Cross-Curricular Projects

    More games and cross-curricular projects have been included.  Ciphers and Codes are important Computer Science concepts that are now included.  

    The A+ AP Computer Science Curriculum Materials include many GridWorld programming assignments and activities that expand beyond the provided AP GridWorld Case Study student manual.  The labs vary in concept and in difficulty level.  Some of the AP GridWorld Case Study labs involve creating games, including TIC TAC TOE, a Sliding 8 Puzzle, Snake, and  an expanded TIC TAC TOE that allows for more than 3 in a row.  GridWorld works very well as a game project platform.  The GridWorld Case Study labs are intended to be used all year long in an incremental manner, but could be delayed and used at one time if preferred.  GridWorld is fun and kids love it! 

    NEW     - NetBeans projects are now included for GridWorld projects!
       Netbeans is a cross-platform compiler that supports many languages. 

    NEW - Moodle backup files with curruculum materials are now provided.
        A+ Moodle backups are ready to go - no files to manually load in. 

Pong, BlackJack, and StarFighter have been expanded.  These Game programming projects have more steps included so that is easier for the students to build the projects and test them incrementally.  Interfaces, Abstract Classes, and inheritance now play a larger part of these projects.  Also, there are now more extensions included for these game projects and other game projects as well.  Pong can be easily expanded into a BreakOut type game, AirHockey, or even FooseBall.  BlackJack can be easily expanded into a Solitaire type game, Poker, or a Video Poker game.  StarFighter can easily be expanded into a Space Invaders style game.  More AP GridWorld projects have been included including a sliding 8 puzzle project that can be altered to become several other puzzle games.  

  • AP Computer Science A Topic List Changes -  All changes made to the AP Computer Science A topic list are included in the 2011-2012 A+ Computer Science Curriculum.  
    Matrices, the java.util.List Interface, Integer.MIN_VALUE, Integer.MAX_VALUE, and static variables are included in the A+ Mateials and have been included for the last few years.
       Check out the latest AP A Computer Science Course Description


  • New Alice, Scratch ( including BYOB ), and Jeroo Materials -  Alice curriculum materials, Scratch curriculum materials, and Jeroo curriculum materials have been expanded. Scratch curriculum materials are primarily for use in introductory CS or pre/AP CS classes.  The Alice and Jeroo materials are typically used in introductory CS classes and AP Computer Science classes, but can be used beyond as well.  Scratch BYOB materials are now included.

    Sample Jeroo Lab     Sample Alice Lab      Sample Scratch Lab
     
     
  • Tests / Quizzes / Worksheets - Expanded and updated Moodle, BlackBoard, and ExamView versions of all tests and quizzes are included.  ExamView will generate multiple versions of tests and quizzes which will allow assessments to be given in a networked setting.   Moodle versions of tests are also included.  All of the AP-style Free Response and Multiple Choice Tests have been expanded to reflect trends from the most recently released AP A exam.

If you have questions or comments, please send me an email at     stacey.armstrong@apluscompsci.com    author information