Computer Science & Programming

NOTE TO STUDENTS: If you are new to the Computer Science Mindset, you must recognize a few things. First, if you can speak another language, the syntax switching you do to convert to English is of great import. Second, CS is in English. Thirdly, studying CS is most fun when you learn with a friend. Lastly, IDK if you are good at something or not if you've never tried it. Most students find they can do more than they think!

Growing up in the US, Elementary & Middle School students should have already learned some robotics machine code and basic code sequencing through building a simple game perhaps using code.org. Even if they did not get a chance to program robots or external devices before, most students agree that learning to design a basic webpage fundamentals comes easily to them and teaches them the fundamentals of structure and readibility of HTML markup language. It is important not to skip over this step because it is one of the first times students can code something that actually does something they can see, easily. This deepens their foundational of learning in preparation of more complex codes when they get to high school, where current students prefer begin with Python. Once in high school, though, most students learn that chromebooks are very limited and thus rely on these compatible resources:

• Code.org or Code.HS
• w3schools.us resource
• CodeCombat game puzzler
• Earsketch to DJ music

Then, they run their programs in a browser using one of the following runcode IDE environments:

• online editors: REPL.it, Scratch, code.HS, w3schools, vscode.dev, codesandbox.io, https://www.codechef.com/ide
• downloadables: Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code

Readying yourself for the workplace may include many very different paths to get into the job. Remember, 50% of the job is proving what you know; the other 50% is WHO you know that can hook you up at a job. You don't have to be BFF's w/ everyone in your classes, but you should at least be polite and helpful. Some of the CS pathways most students follow include..

• Business
• Multimedia Design Focus: Game Design, Visual Arts, Game Audio
• Media & Interface Design, UX Designer, Full Stack Developer
• CyberSecurity, Hacking & Defense
• Programming
• Databases & MySQL
• App Dev & DeBugging
• AI & Machine Learning
• Aerospace, Engineering

AP Computer Science Principles 2020 @ Columbine High School.
Practice Projects

HighlyRegarded National Programs: one of the most affordable 4-year colleges , UC Berkeley (best public school in the country), Stanford, MIT, 

Once students understand some of the following concepts of writing and running code, they move to designing games in Construct with block coding and then move to GoDot and UnReal Engine or Unity. For students who wish to get started on their own, consider the folllowing list of projects to prepare your success in a technology field like Computer Science:

• HTML/CSS/JavaScript -- About Me list, customized snake game, fill in form that generates emailed  responses, music player, blinky animation swappable mouseover states, 
• Simple Math Codes: add/sub/avg/div two numbers, square root finder, binary calculator, base10 converter, Caesar Cypher, reverse cypher
• Sorting: Cookout Grocery Lists, separating store items by Vegan, Islamic, and Vegetarian, Carnivor dietary restrictions, What's for Dinner game? 
• Randomizer: Basic Number Generator; Magic 8-Ball randomizer
• Pixel Illustration: drawing shapes, mandala, spiralizer, Character Sprite, like PiskelApp but via code (ie. Mario, Mickey  Mouse)
• Turtle Animation, Blinky, Scene Animation with timed animations, 
• Pixel Geometry Scene Drawings with moving parts animation
• PyGame Platformer Game, 1 scene
• Entry Level Game: GoToAndPlay (.ppt), Pirate Treasure Game (HTML), IF/ELSE T/F Choose Your Own Adventure (PYTHON)
• PYGAME: 1 scene game, platformer, maze game

If you like coding and puzzles, challenge yourself in Problets + Kattis + CodeCombat + CodingBat