The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to be the equivalent to a first-semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking skills vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tolls to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. This 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.
Course Framework
AP Computer Science Principles is based on the Understanding by Design (Wiggins and McTighe) model. The key sections of this framework are based on computational thinking practices which capture the important aspects that computer scientists engage in at the level of competence expected of AP Computer Science Principles students.