Introduction to Computer Science using Snap!

Fridays, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, September 9 – November 18, at

Smile Camp, 6301 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC 27606

Limited to 6 students

This course is an introduction to functional programming, with an emphasis on recursion and abstraction. The class is taught using Snap!, a visual computer programming language. While students will learn to code in Snap!, this is not a class that teaches “coding” per se, but teaches how to think about and solve problems by writing computer programs. The aim of the course is to think about functions and data in a way that supports future programming endeavors.

This course closely follows the content of AP Computer Science Principles. While students student below high school are not allowed to include the “AP” designation on their transcripts, the course is based on the curriculum, Beauty and Joy of Computing: https://bjc.edc.org/bjc-r/course/bjc4nyc.html. 

From their website: “Beauty and Joy of Computing is recognized by the College Board as an endorsed provider of curriculum and professional development for AP® Computer Science Principles (AP CSP). This endorsement affirms that all components of Beauty and Joy of Computing’s offerings are aligned to the AP Curriculum Framework standards and the AP CSP assessment.”

Students will be ask to complete daily assignments and required to submit weekly and monthly programming projects, and to demonstrate their working code in front of other students.

Instructor: Ms. Allison Coates. Ms. Coates is a co-founder and instructor for BRIGHTLinks. She has over 20 years of experience teaching a variety of mathematics and science courses, from elementary school through university level. She has an S.B. in mathematics from MIT, and an M.S. in Computer Science from University of California, Berkeley.

Audience: homeschoolers with a strong interest in mathematical thinking and problem

solving. Successful completion of this course would prepare students for future

computer science or programming courses.

Prerequisites: Students should be comfortable with algebraic manipulation. Co-

requisite of Algebra 1 suggested. While no age restriction is in place, instructor approval is required.