Middle School Exploring Computer Science

Computer science is the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, their hardware and software designs, their applications, and their impact on society." --ACM/CSTA Model Curriculum for K-12 Computer Science

Enduring Understandings

1. You can design and create software to solve problems

2. Computer scientists are a tribe who use specific tools, languages, and techniques to understand and solve problems (source).

3. If you want to know what is true, you must must know the depth of a thing

Computational Thinking standards

• Use predefined functions and parameters, classes and methods to divide a complex problem into simpler parts.
• Describe a software development process used to solve software problems (e.g., design, coding, testing, verification).
• Explain how sequence, selection, iteration, and recursion are building blocks of algorithms.
• Compare techniques for analyzing massive data collections.
• Describe the relationship between binary and hexadecimal representations.
• Analyze the representation and trade-offs among various forms of digital information.
• Describe how various types of data are stored in a computer system.
• Use modeling and simulation to represent and understand natural phenomena.
• Discuss the value of abstraction to manage problem complexity.
• Describe the concept of parallel processing as a strategy to solve large problems.
• Describe how computation shares features with art and music by translating human intention into an artifact.

Collaboration standards

• Work in a team to design and develop a software artifact.
• Use collaborative tools to communicate with project team members (e.g., discussion threads, wikis, blogs, version control, etc.).
• Describe how computing enhances traditional forms and enables new forms of experience, expression, communication, and collaboration
• Identify how collaboration influences the design and development of software products.

Computing Practice and Programming standards

• Create and organize Web pages through the use of a variety of web programming design tools.
• Use mobile devices/emulators to design, develop, and implement mobile computing applications.
• Use various debugging and testing methods to ensure program correctness (e.g., test cases, unit testing, white box, black box, integration testing)
• Apply analysis, design, and implementation techniques to solve problems (e.g., use one or more software lifecycle models).
• Use Application Program Interfaces (APIs) and libraries to facilitate programming solutions.
• Select appropriate file formats for various types and uses of data.
• Describe a variety of programming languages available to solve problems and develop systems.
• Explain the program execution process.
• Explain the principles of security by examining encryption, cryptography, and authentication techniques.
• Explore a variety of careers to which computing is central.
• Describe techniques for locating and collecting small and large-scale data sets.
• Describe how mathematical and statistical functions, sets, and logic are used in computation.

Computers and Communications Devices standards

• Describe the unique features of computers embedded in mobile devices and vehicles (e.g., cell phones, automobiles, airplanes).
• Develop criteria for purchasing or upgrading computer system hardware.
• Describe the principal components of computer organization (e.g., input, output, processing, and storage).
• Compare various forms of input and output.
• Explain the multiple levels of hardware and software that support program execution (e.g., compilers, interpreters, operating systems, networks).
• Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems that occur in everyday life.
• Compare and contrast client-server and peer-to-peer network strategies.
• Explain the basic components of computer networks (e.g., servers, file protection, routing, spoolers and queues, shared resources, and fault-tolerance).
• Describe how the Internet facilitates global communication.
• Describe the major applications of artificial intelligence and robotics.

Community, Global, and Ethical Impacts standards

• Compare appropriate and inappropriate social networking behaviors.
• Discuss the impact of computing technology on business and commerce (e.g., automated tracking of goods, automated financial transactions, e-commerce, cloud computing).
• Describe the role that adaptive technology can play in the lives of people with special needs.
• Compare the positive and negative impacts of technology on culture (e.g., social networking, delivery of news and other public media, and intercultural communication).
• Describe strategies for determining the reliability of information found on the Internet.
• Distinguish between information access and information distribution rights.
• Describe how different kinds of software licenses can be used to share and protect intellectual property.
• Discuss the social and economic implications associated with hacking and software piracy.
• Describe different ways in which software is created and shared and their benefits and drawbacks (commercial software, public domain software, open source development).
• Describe security and privacy issues that relate to computer networks.
• Explain the impact of the digital divide on access to critical information.

MS Design Cycle Ideas

Example Idea 1

Devote time and attention to gaining knowledge of (an academic subject), especially by means of books

Produce a plan, simulation or model.

Produce a plan, simulation or model.