AP Comp Sci Principals – hfdjksahfecniea
School
Woodlawn High School
Subject
Preview text
AP® Computer
Science
Principles
####### ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE TASK
####### DIRECTIONS FOR STUDENTS
ective
Fall 20 17
Eff
INCLUDES:
Assessment overview
Explore performance
task directions
Create performance
task directions
Exam reference sheet
Contents
AP Computer Science Principles Assessment Overview for Students
1 Investigation and Citation
2 Programming Language Requirements 2 Peer-to-Peer Collaboration 3 Preparing for the Through-Course Performance Tasks
Performance Task: Explore – Impact of Computing Innovations
7 Preparing for the Explore Performance Task
8 Guidelines for Completing the Explore Performance Task
Performance Task: Create – Applications from Ideas
12 Preparing for the Create Performance Task
12 Guidelines for Completing the Create Performance Task
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Reference Sheet
AP Computer Science Principles Handout
AP Computer Science Principles Policy on Plagiarism
A student who fails to acknowledge (i., through citation, through attribution, by reference, and/or through acknowledgment in a bibliographic entry) the source or author of any and all information or evidence taken from the work of someone else will receive a score of 0 on that performance task.
To the best of their ability, teachers will ensure that students understand ethical use and acknowledgment of the ideas and work of others as well as the consequences of plagiarism. The student’s individual voice should be clearly evident, and the ideas of others must be acknowledged, attributed, and/or cited. A computational artifact without acknowledgment of the media used in the creation of the computational artifact, and program code segment(s) written by someone else used in a program without appropriate acknowledgment, are all considered plagiarized work.
Programming Language Requirements
AP Computer Science Principles is language agnostic. This means that there is no specific language requirement. When completing the Create – Applications from Ideas performance task for this course, you are allowed to select a language you feel is most appropriate to meet the requirements of the task. When selecting a language or program, you should review the requirements section of the performance task to ensure that your program will be sophisticated enough to implement mathematical and logical concepts, create abstractions, and implement algorithms.
Peer-to-Peer Collaboration
Collaboration is only allowed on designated sub-components of the Create performance task.
For the Explore – Impact of Computing Innovations performance task, collaboration of any kind is not allowed.
For the Create – Applications from Ideas performance task, you are encouraged to collaborate on the development of their program with another student in your class. Collaboration is not allowed during the creation of the video or when answering the written responses.
Students completing AP Computer Science Principles in a nontraditional classroom situation (e., online, homeschool, independent study) are encouraged to collaborate with another student peer when completing the Create performance task.
AP Computer Science Principles Handout
Preparing for the Through-Course Performance Tasks
The following guidelines are meant to help you be successful on the performance tasks as well as to clarify or address any questions you may have regarding the process of completing these tasks. Prior to your teacher administering the performance tasks, you should:
▶ obtain content knowledge and skills that will help you succeed on the performance tasks;
▶ practice either an entire performance task or individual prompts of the tasks;
▶ review the scoring guidelines, found on AP Central, to understand how your work will be assessed;
▶ examine examples of performance task found on AP Central of submissions at high, medium, and low levels. If you select a computing innovation that is represented in one of the examples, or that was discussed in class, you must find new sources and submit original responses to avoid. You cannot submit any work from practice performance tasks.
▶ pay attention to the instructions concerning the size of the files to be uploaded; the computational artifact for the Explore performance task and the video for the Create performance task individually cannot exceed 30MB.
▶ ensure you know the proper way to evaluate and appropriately cite a source, including program code; any program code which has not been written by you must be cited and credit given to the author;
▶ understand the level of detail expected in writing your responses by examining the scoring guidelines and high level samples found on AP Central;
▶ understand that you may not revise your work once you have submitted your work as final to the AP Digital Portfolio; and
▶ be aware that the scoring process that occurs in the AP Reading may be different from the scoring process that occurs in your classroom; the AP score that you receive may be different than your classroom grade.
AP Computer Science Principles: Explore Performance Task Handout
▶ explain how a computing innovation consumes, produces, or transforms data; and ▶ describe how data storage, data privacy, or data security concerns are raised based on the capabilities of the computing innovation. You are also required to: ▶ investigate your computing innovation using a variety of sources (e., print, online, expert interviews); ▶ provide in-text citations of at least three different sources that helped you create your computational artifact and/or formulate your written responses; › At least two of the sources must be available online or in print; your third source may be either online, in print, or a personal interview with an expert on the computing innovation. › At least two of the sources must have been created after the end of the previous academic year. ▶ produce a computational artifact that illustrates, represents, or explains the computing innovation’s intended purpose, its function, or its effect; and ▶ provide written responses to all the prompts in the performance task about your computational artifact and computing innovation.
Submission Requirements
- Computational Artifact
Your computational artifact must provide an illustration, representation, or explanation of the computing innovation’s intended purpose, its function, or its effect. The computational artifact must not simply repeat the information supplied in the written responses and should be primarily nontextual. Submit a video, audio, or PDF file. Use computing tools and techniques to create one original computational artifact (a visualization, a graphic, a video, a program, or an audio recording). Acceptable multimedia file types include .mp3, .mp4, .wmv, .avi, .mov, .wav, .aif, or .pdf format. PDF files must not exceed three pages. Video or audio files must not exceed 1 minute in length and must not exceed 30MB in size.
- Written Responses
Submit one PDF file in which you respond directly to each of the prompts below. Clearly label your responses 2a–2e in order. Your responses must provide evidence of the extensive knowledge you have developed about your chosen computing innovation and its impact(s). Write your responses so they would be understandable to someone who is not familiar with the computing innovation. Include citations, as applicable, within your written responses. Your response to prompts 2a–2d combined must not exceed 700 words. The references required in 2e are not included in the final word count.
Handout
Computational Artifact
2a. Provide information on your computing innovation and computational artifact.
w Name the computing innovation that is represented by your computational artifact. w Describe the computing innovation’s intended purpose and function. w Describe how your computational artifact illustrates, represents, or explains the computing innovation’s intended purpose, its function, or its effect.
( Must not exceed 100 words )
2b. Describe your development process, explicitly identifying the computing tools and techniques you used to create your artifact. Your description must be detailed enough so that a person unfamiliar with those tools and techniques will understand your process. ( Must not exceed 100 words )
Computing Innovation
2c. Explain at least one beneficial effect and at least one harmful effect the computing innovation has had, or has the potential to have, on society, economy, or culture. ( Must not exceed 250 words )
2d. Using specific details, describe:
w the data your innovation uses; w how the innovation consumes (as input), produces (as output), and/or transforms data; and w at least one data storage concern, data privacy concern, or data security concern directly related to the computing innovation.
( Must not exceed 250 words )
References
2e. Provide a list of at least three online or print sources used to create your computational artifact and/or support your responses through in-text citation to the prompts provided in this performance task. w At least two of the sources must have been created after the end of the previous academic year. w For each online source, include the complete and permanent URL. Identify the author, title, source, the date you retrieved the source, and, if possible, the date the reference was written or posted. w For each print source, include the author, title of excerpt/article and magazine or book, page number(s), publisher, and date of publication. If you include an interview source, include the name of the person you interviewed, the date on which the interview occurred, and the person’s position in the field.
w
w Include in-text citations for the sources you used. w Each source must be relevant, credible, and easily accessed.
AP Computer Science Principles: Explore Performance Task
Handout
Guidelines for Completing the
Explore Performance Task
You must:
▶ be aware of the performance task directions, timeline, and scoring criteria;
▶ support your written analysis of your computing innovation when responding to all the prompts by using details related to the knowledge and understanding of computer science you have obtained throughout the course and your investigation;
▶ provide evidence to support your claims using in-text citations;
▶ use relevant and credible sources to gather information about your computing innovation;
▶ provide acknowledgments for the use of any media or program code used in the creation of your computational artifact that is not your own; and
▶ allow your own interests to drive your choice of computing innovation and computational artifact. You may:
▶ follow a timeline and schedule for completing the performance task;
▶ seek clarification from your teacher or AP Coordinator pertaining to the task, timeline, components, and scoring criteria;
▶ seek clarification from your teacher or AP Coordinator regarding submission requirements;
▶ as needed, seek assistance from your teacher or AP Coordinator in defining your focus and choice of topics; and
▶ seek assistance from your teacher or AP Coordinator to resolve technical problems that impede work, such as a failing workstation or difficulty with access to networks, or help with saving files or making movie files. You may not:
▶ collaborate on the Explore performance task;
▶ submit work that has been revised, amended, or corrected by another individual;
▶ submit work from a practice performance task as your official submission to the College Board to be scored by the AP Program; or
▶ seek assistance or feedback on answers to prompts.
AP Computer Science Principles: Explore Performance Task
Handout
Performance Task: Create – Applications
from Ideas
Overview
Programming is a collaborative and creative process that brings ideas to life through the development of software. Programs can help solve problems, enable innovations, or express personal interests. In this performance task, you will be developing a program of your choice. Your development process should include iteratively designing, implementing, and testing your program. You are strongly encouraged to work with another student in your class. Please note that once this performance task has been assigned as an assessment (rather than as practice), you are expected to complete the task with minimal assistance from anyone other than your collaborative peer(s). For more clarification see the Guidelines for Completing the Through-Course Performance Tasks section. You will be provided with a minimum of 12 hours of class time to complete and submit the following:
▶ A video of your program running
▶ Individual written responses about your program and development process
▶ Program code
Scoring guidelines and instructions for submitting your performance tasks are available on the AP Computer Science Principles Course Home Page. Note: Students in nontraditional classroom environments should consult a school- based AP Coordinator for instructions.
General Requirements
This performance task requires you to develop a program on a topic that interests you or one that solves a problem. During the completion of this performance task, you will iteratively design, implement, and test your program. You will provide written responses to prompts about your program and specific program code that are significant to the functionality of your program. It is strongly recommended that a portion of the program involve some form of collaboration with another student in your class, for example, in the planning, designing, or testing (debugging) part of the development process. Your program development must also involve a significant amount of independent work writing your program code, in particular, algorithm(s) and abstraction(s) that you select to use as part of your written response to describe how the program code segments help your program run.
AP Computer Science Principles: Create Performance Task
Program Purpose and Development 2a. Provide a written response or audio narration in your video that: w identifies the programming language; w identifies the purpose of your program; and w explains what the video illustrates. (Must not exceed 150 words) 2b. Describe the incremental and iterative development process of your program, focusing on two distinct points in that process. Describe the difficulties and/ or opportunities you encountered and how they were resolved or incorporated. In your description clearly indicate whether the development described was collaborative or independent. At least one of these points must refer to independent program development. (Must not exceed 200 words) 2c. Capture and paste a program code segment that implements an algorithm (marked with an oval in section 3 below) and that is fundamental for your program to achieve its intended purpose. This code segment must be an algorithm you developed individually on your own, must include two or more algorithms, and must integrate mathematical and/or logical concepts. Describe how each algorithm within your selected algorithm functions independently, as well as in combination with others, to form a new algorithm that helps to achieve the intended purpose of the program. (Must not exceed 200 words) 2d. Capture and paste a program code segment that contains an abstraction you developed individually on your own (marked with a rectangle in section 3 below). This abstraction must integrate mathematical and logical concepts. Explain how your abstraction helped manage the complexity of your program. (Must not exceed 200 words)
- Program Code
Capture and paste your entire program code in this section. › Mark with an oval the segment of program code that implements the algorithm you created for your program that integrates other algorithms and integrates mathematical and/or logical concepts. › Mark with a rectangle the segment of program code that represents an abstraction you developed. › Include comments or acknowledgments for program code that has been written by someone else.
AP Computer Science Principles: Create Performance Task Handout
Preparing for the Create Performance Task
Prior to your teacher administering this task, you should:
▶ Brainstorm problems that programming can address, or brainstorm special interests that programming can help develop;
▶ Ensure you understand the iterative nature of developing a computer program;
▶ Be prepared to collaborate with peers as necessary and in different ways;
▶ Ensure you are able to analyze program code and code segments and explain the function as it relates to the overall program;
▶ Know how to keep a programming journal of the design choices that you will make during the development of your program code and the effect of these decisions on the program’s function. You can use this journal as a point of reference when demonstrating your understanding of how: › an algorithm was built as part of the integration of two or more algorithms; › a program functions differently with the inclusion of algorithms and abstractions; › the inclusion of an abstraction has made their program code more compact, readable and/or reusable and how the program would operate differently without the inclusion of the abstraction;
▶ obtain programming support as necessary while practicing the skills needed to complete the performance task.
Guidelines for Completing the
Create Performance Task
You must:
▶ be aware of the performance task directions, timeline, and scoring criteria;
▶ apply computer science knowledge you’ve obtained throughout the course when developing your program and in your explanation of its function;
▶ provide acknowledgment for program code used in your program that is not your own; and
▶ allow your own interests to drive your choice of program.
You may:
▶ follow a timeline and schedule for completing the performance task;
▶ seek clarification from your teacher or AP Coordinator pertaining to the task;
▶ seek clarification from your teacher or AP Coordinator regarding submission requirements;
AP Computer Science Principles: Create Performance Task Handout
AP Computer Science Principles Exam
Reference Sheet
As AP Computer Science Principles does not designate any particular programming language, this reference sheet provides instructions and explanations to help students understand the format and meaning of the questions they will see on the exam. The reference sheet includes two programming formats: text based and block based. Programming instructions use four data types: numbers, Booleans, strings, and lists. Instructions from any of the following categories may appear on the exam:
▶ Assignment, Display, and Input
▶ Arithmetic Operators and Numeric Procedures
▶ Relational and Boolean Operators
▶ Selection
▶ Iteration
▶ List Operations
▶ Procedures
▶ Robot
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Reference Sheet
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Reference Sheet
Instruction Explanation Assignment, Display, and Input Text: a ← expression Block:
Evaluates expression and assigns the result to the variable a.
Text: DISPLAY (expression) Block:
Displays the value of expression, followed by a space.
Text: INPUT () Block:
Accepts a value from the user and returns it.
Arithmetic Operators and Numeric Procedures Text and Block: a + b a – b a * b a / b
The arithmetic operators +, -, *, and / are used to perform arithmetic on a and b. For example, 3 / 2 evaluates to 1.
Text and Block: a MOD b
Evaluates to the remainder when a is divided by b. Assume that a and b are positive integers. For example, 17 MOD 5 evaluates to 2. Text: RANDOM (a, b) Block:
Evaluates to a random integer from a to b, including a and b. For example, RANDOM (1, 3) could evaluate to 1 , 2 , or 3.
Relational and Boolean Operators Text and Block: a = b a ≠ b a > b a < b a ≥ b a ≤ b
The relational operators =, ≠, >, <, ≥, and ≤ are used to test the relationship between two variables, expressions, or values. For example, a = b evaluates to true if a and b are equal; otherwise, it evaluates to false.
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Reference Sheet
Text: IF (condition) { <first block of statements> } ELSE { <second block of statements> } Block:
The code in first block of statements is executed if the Boolean expression condition evaluates to true; otherwise, the code in second block of statements is executed.
Iteration Text: REPEAT n TIMES { <block of statements> } Block:
The code in block of statements is executed n times.
Text: REPEAT UNTIL (condition) { <block of statements> } Block:
The code in block of statements is repeated until the Boolean expression condition evaluates to true.
Instruction Explanation Selection (continued)
Instruction Explanation List Operations
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Reference Sheet
For all list operations, if a list index is less than 1 or greater than the length of the list, an error message is produced and the program terminates. Text: list[i] Block:
Refers to the element of list at index i. The first element of list is at index 1.
Text: list[i] ← list[j] Block:
Assigns the value of list[j] to list[i].
Text: list ← [value1, value2, value3] Block:
Assigns value1, value2, and value to list[1], list[2], and list[3], respectively.
Text: FOR EACH item IN list { <block of statements> } Block:
The variable item is assigned the value of each element of list sequentially, in order from the first element to the last element. The code in block of statements is executed once for each assignment of item.
Text: INSERT (list, i, value) Block:
Any values in list at indices greater than or equal to i are shifted to the right. The length of list is increased by 1, and value is placed at index i in list.
Text: APPEND (list, value) Block:
The length of list is increased by 1, and value is placed at the end of list.
AP Comp Sci Principals – hfdjksahfecniea
