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Getting Started
01.00 Orientation
Welcome to AP® Computer Science! This course is comparable to a first semester, college level introductory computer programming course. When you complete the AP® Computer Science course you will be able to:

Design and implement computer-based solutions to problems in a variety of areas.
Apply and implement commonly-used algorithms and data structures.
Develop and select appropriate algorithms and data structures to solve problems.
Code fluently in the Java programming language.
Identify the major hardware and software components of a computer system, their relationship to one another, and the roles of these components within the system.
Recognize the ethical and social implications of computer use.
Read and understand the AP® Computer Science Labs.
These are the goals that the College Board has established for the course. But, what are your personal goals for taking AP® Computer Science?
You may only want another AP credit on your transcript or to boost your GPA. You may be curious about how computers are programmed. You may know another programming language and want to specifically learn Java. You may have already decided on a career in computer science, or a related field, and want to gain some background. Regardless of your reason(s), you have made a good choice.

Today, computers seem to be everywhere you look. Whether it is a computer operating the Hubble Telescope or a microchip in a musical birthday card, if a computer is involved, it has to be running software (i.e., a computer program) to accomplish anything. Every time you use your computer a program is running. For example:

When you write a paper, you need software (e.g., Microsoft Word).
When you play music, you need software (e.g., iTunes).
When you browse the Web, you need software (e.g., Firefox).
Even when you write a program, you need software (e.g., Java).
Without software, a computer is a pretty useless desk ornament.


Computer capabilities are gaining such sophistication that we literally regard them as intelligent machines. But what makes a computer seem intelligent? A computer can only do what it is programmed to do; and humans are the only ones who can write software (although that, too, is changing). Without getting into a debate about the nature of intelligence, it is fair to say that without software the house plant in your living room is smarter than your computer!


Wouldn't you say that a plant's DNA programs it to grow, reproduce, etc.? Still, who knows what your future holds. Advances in computer science are happening so rapidly that almost anything seems possible. Visit the two websites below for more information.

Computer Made from DNA Enzymes from National Geographic News
How DNA Computers Work from How Stuff Works
So, the better informed you are, the more empowered you will be to make intelligent decisions that will affect you and your family. Actually, this may be the best reason to take AP® Computer Science. You will be opening a window ... your mind ... into the future, your future. And, you will probably water the house plants more often, too.

VIP Orientation
Congratulations! Your have been accepted to the Virtual Internship Program (VIP) at Computer Science Associates, a non-profit technology think tank! As more and more students like you have begun to discover, the applications of computer science are nearly limitless. Twenty to thirty years ago, computer science was a narrowly defined niche associated with math, science, and engineering. But times have changed!

Pick a topic, any topic: Agriculture, Astronomy, Financial Management, Forensic Accounting, Nanotechnology, Transportation, Fashion Design, Sports Medicine, Robotics, Woodworking, Viral Marketing, Education, Nutrition, Graphic Arts, Engineering, Law Enforcement, Game Theory, Sustainable Housing, or Alternative Energy. Somewhere, someone is applying computer science to literally any field you can name.

What are you interested in? Keep an open mind during your VIP experience, because we have tried to design a course of study that will expand your perception of the computer sciences. In the end, as a VIP graduate, we hope you will add your own field of interest to the topics just mentioned.

Computer Science Associates is a leader in exploring connections between the computer sciences and other disciplines. In this multidisciplinary setting, our computer scientists use many tools, including computer programming, to explore what's over the horizon in their field of interest. As a VIP participant, your internship will be devoted to learning a computer programming language called Java. In each module, a CSA staff member from one of our many application areas will be your VIP Mentor and present you with a programming task in the context of their individual specialty.

Staff members volunteer to be VIP Mentors, so we can never predict which disciplines will be covered in any given year. However, past topics have included Astronomy, Transportation, Finances, Robotics, Physics, Sports Medicine, Probability and Statistics, as well as Oceanography. Topics may be added or removed from the list depending on which mentors are available this year.

During your Welcome Call you met your individual VIP Instructor. As you read through the Lesson and Practice sections of each segment you may feel like your instructor or mentor is right there with you, posing questions and suggesting new strategies to try; however, they are also available by phone, email, and chat for direct and personal assistance. Instructors will give you feedback on your work, answer questions, and serve as the liaison between you and the VIP Mentors. Periodic assessments will help you evaluate your understanding of the Java programming language and give you practice for the AP® Computer Science exam at the end of the year. VIP graduates have done very well on previous exams and have gone on to success in many colleges and universities across the country. Work hard, stay on pace, and you may also receive college credit for this internship experience if you earn a qualifying score on the AP® Computer Science exam in May.


Before concluding this orientation, some of you have wondered what's up with the bugs you see incorporated into the graphic design of the course. Surely you have heard computer errors referred to as bugs! So bugs remind us of several things:

                First, bugs are going to show up in every program you write.

                Second, insects can teach us a lot about the environment
                and our relationship to it.

In short, we can learn a lot from bugs, especially in the context of computer programming. So metaphorically speaking, think of our bugs as course mascots; the patron insects of programmers!
If you have questions after the orientation, be sure to call or email your VIP Instructor. And, as you begin your Virtual Internship Program, keep the mission statement in mind.

CSA/VIP Mission

Prepare students for academic success, productive employment, and responsible citizenship through creative, innovative, and ethical applications of 21st century computer science skills and knowledge.

Good luck. We hope your VIP experience will be enjoyable and successful.

Course Information

Pace Guide	 This course is designed to be completed in 36 weeks. In order to finish on time, you will need to devote a minimum of eight hours a week to reading assignments, practicing, and writing programs. You may work at an accelerated pace, but you should not fall behind. AP® Computer Science complies with the College Board's course description and covers the topics tested on the APCS A Exam.
AP® Exam	When you successfully complete this course, you should be ready to take the AP® Computer Science A Exam in May.
The assignments and tests in the course are modeled after actual Multiple-Choice and Free Response exam questions, so you will have plenty of practice before the exam.

Notebook	Print out copies of all completed assignments, any demo programs, and all supplemental documents. Keep them organized in a notebook with labeled dividers.
This portfolio of your work will be useful when you need to quickly review a topic, study for a test, or discuss a specific aspect of a program during an Discussion Based Assessment.

eIMACS	 The course content is provided by the Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS). A unique feature of this curriculum is an embedded Java compiler that allows you to understand material presented in each unit by experimenting before you try to write your own programs. Over 200 practice exercises are included to frequently check your understanding. Your instructor will create and maintain your account.
Software	You will need several pieces of software for the course:
the Java programming language
a program editor for writing code
All of the software is free and you will begin installing it shortly.

Grades	 Your grade will be based on the quality of your work on the following types of assessments.
Module Assignments : The point value of Module Assignments varies from 5 to 40 points based on the level of difficulty. A grading rubric is provided for each assignment.

Tests : Tests will be given after completion of major units to help you evaluate your understanding and progress. There are also ungraded practice tests in each of the IMACS units.

Exams (20%): There will be cumulative exams at the end of each semester.

Discussion Based Assessments : Regularly scheduled Discussion Based Assessments will be conducted over the phone with your VIP Instructor. You will have an opportunity to exchange ideas with other interns about computer science topics in the Discussion Forum.

Academic Integrity	Please review the Academic Integrity statement you agreed to when you registered for the course. You are expected to do your own work.
Every assignment you submit will include your name in the comment section of the program. A program submitted with your name on it is a declaration that you did the work. If you submit assignments that use someone else's work, there will be consequences. So, do your own work.

Houseplant image © 2007 Creating Online Gallery, DNA image, number ten image, and calendar images © 2007 Jupiterimages Corporation



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