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Computer Science Standards




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Showing 1 - 10 of 46 Standards

Standard Identifier: K-2.AP.12

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Control
Practice(s): Creating Computational Artifacts (5.2)

Standard:
Create programs with sequences of commands and simple loops, to express ideas or address a problem.

Descriptive Statement:
People create programs by composing sequences of commands that specify the precise order in which instructions should be executed. Loops enable programs to repeat a sequence of commands multiple times. For example, students could follow simple movements in response to oral instructions. Students could then create a simple sequence of movement commands in response to a given problem (e.g., In how many ways can you travel from point A to point B?) and represent it as a computer program, using loops to repeat commands. (VAPA Dance K.1.4, 1.2.3, 1.2.5, 1.2.8, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3) Alternatively, on a mat with many different CVC words, students could program robots to move to words with a similar vowel sound. Students could look for multiple ways to solve the problem and simplify their solution by incorporating loops. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy RF.K.2.D, RF.1.2.C)

Standard Identifier: K-2.AP.14

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Program Development
Practice(s): Creating Computational Artifacts, Communicating About Computing (5.1, 7.2)

Standard:
Develop plans that describe a program’s sequence of events, goals, and expected outcomes.

Descriptive Statement:
Creating a plan for what a program will do clarifies the steps that will be needed to create the program and can be used to check if a program runs as expected. Students create a planning document to illustrate their program's sequence of events, goals, and expected outcomes of what their program will do. Planning documents could include a story map, a storyboard, or a sequential graphic organizer, to illustrate their program's sequence of events, goals, and expected outcomes of what their program will do. Students at this level may complete the planning process with help from the teacher. For example, students could create a storyboard or timeline that represents a family's history, leading to their current location of residence. Students could then create a plan for a program that animates the story of family locations. (HSS 2.1.1) (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy W.K.3, W.1.3, W.2.3)

Standard Identifier: K-2.AP.15

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Program Development
Practice(s): Communicating About Computing (7.3)

Standard:
Give attribution when using the ideas and creations of others while developing programs.

Descriptive Statement:
Computing makes it easy to reuse and remix others' creations, and this comes with a level of responsibility. Students credit artifacts that were created by others, such as pictures, music, and code. Credit could be given orally if presenting their work to the class, or in writing if sharing work on a class blog or website. Proper attribution at this stage does not require formal citation, such as in a bibliography or works cited document. For example, when creating an animation of the sun, moon, and stars using a blocks-based language, students could draw their own sun and use an image of the moon and stars from a website or a teammate. When students present the model to the class, they can orally give credit to the website or peer for the contributions. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy SL.K.5, SL.1.5, SL.2.5) (NGSS.1-ESS1-1) (CA Model School Library Standards 2.3.b, 2.4.2.a)

Standard Identifier: K-2.AP.16

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Program Development
Practice(s): Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts (6.2)

Standard:
Debug errors in an algorithm or program that includes sequences and simple loops.

Descriptive Statement:
Algorithms or programs may not always work correctly. Students use various strategies, such as changing the sequence of the steps, following the algorithm in a step-by-step manner, or trial and error to fix problems in algorithms and programs. For example, when given images placed in a random order, students could give step-by-step commands to direct a robot, or a student playing a robot, to navigate to the images in the correct sequence. Examples of images include storyboard cards from a familiar story (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy RL.K.2, RL.1.2, RL.2.2) and locations of the sun at different times of the day (CA NGSS: 1-ESS1-1). Alternatively, students could "program" the teacher or another classmate by giving precise instructions to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or navigate around the classroom. When the teacher or classmate doesn't respond as intended, students correct their commands. Additionally, students could receive a partially completed soundboard program that has a variety of animals programmed to play a corresponding sound when the user touches them. Students correct any sounds that don't match the animal (e.g., if the cat moos, students change the moo sound to meow).

Standard Identifier: K-2.AP.17

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Program Development
Practice(s): Communicating About Computing (7.2)

Standard:
Describe the steps taken and choices made during the iterative process of program development.

Descriptive Statement:
Program developers make choices and iterate to continually refine their product. At this stage, students explain or write about the goals and expected outcomes of the programs they create and the choices that they made when creating programs. Students could use coding journals, discussions with a teacher, class presentations, or blogs. For example, students could use a combination of images, verbal reflections, a physical model, and/or written text to show the step-by-step process taken to develop a program such as cutting and pasting coding commands into a journal, using manipulatives that represent different commands and control structures, and taking screenshots of code and adding to a digital journal. This iterative process could be documented via a speech, journal, one on one conference with teacher or peer, small group conference, or blog. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy SL.K.5, SL.1.5, SL.2.5) (CA NGSS: K-2-ETS1.2)

Standard Identifier: K-2.NI.5

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Networks & the Internet
Subconcept: Cybersecurity
Practice(s): Communicating About Computing (7.2)

Standard:
Explain why people use passwords.

Descriptive Statement:
Passwords protect information from unwanted use by others. When creating passwords, people often use patterns of familiar numbers and text to more easily remember their passwords. However, this may make the passwords weaker. Knowledge about the importance of passwords is an essential first step in learning about cybersecurity. Students explain that strong passwords are needed to protect devices and information from unwanted use. For example, students could play a game of guessing a three-character code. In one version of the game, the characters are only numbers. In the second version, characters are numbers or letters. Students describe why it would take longer to guess the correct code in the second case. Alternatively, students could engage in a collaborative discussion regarding passwords and their importance. Students may follow-up the discussion by exploring strong password components (combination of letters, numbers, and characters), creating their own passwords, and writing opinion pieces indicating reasons their passwords are strong. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy SL.K.1, SL.1.1, SL 2.1, W.1.1, W.2.1)

Standard Identifier: 3-5.AP.10

Grade Range: 3–5
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Algorithms
Practice(s): Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems, Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts (3.3, 6.3)

Standard:
Compare and refine multiple algorithms for the same task and determine which is the most appropriate.

Descriptive Statement:
Different algorithms can achieve the same result, though sometimes one algorithm might be more appropriate for a specific solution. Students examine different ways to solve the same task and decide which would be the better solution for the specific scenario. For example, students could use a map and create multiple algorithms to model the early land and sea routes to and from European settlements in California. They could then compare and refine their algorithms to reflect faster travel times, shorter distances, or avoid specific characteristics, such as mountains, deserts, ocean currents, and wind patterns. (HSS.4.2.2) Alternatively, students could identify multiple algorithms for decomposing a fraction into a sum of fractions with the same denominator and record each decomposition with an equation (e.g., 2 1/8 = 1 + 1 + 1/8 = 8/8 + 8/8 + 1/8). Students could then select the most efficient algorithm (e.g., fewest number of steps). (CA CCSS for Mathematics 4.NF.3b) Additionally, students could compare algorithms that describe how to get ready for school and modify them for supporting different goals including having time to care for a pet, being able to talk with a friend before classes start, or taking a longer route to school to accompany a younger sibling to their school first. Students could then write an opinion piece, justifying with reasons their selected algorithm is most appropriate. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy W.3.1, W.4.1, W.5.1)

Standard Identifier: 3-5.AP.11

Grade Range: 3–5
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Variables
Practice(s): Creating Computational Artifacts (5.2)

Standard:
Create programs that use variables to store and modify data.

Descriptive Statement:
Variables are used to store and modify data. Students use variables in programs they create. At this level, students may need guidance in identifying when to create variables (i.e., performing the abstraction). For example, students could create a game to represent predators and prey in an ecosystem. They could declare a "score" variable, assign it to 0 at the start of the game, and add 1 (increment) the score each time the predator captures its prey. They could also declare a second "numberOfLives" variable, assign it to 3 at the start of the game, and subtract 1 (decrement) each time a prey is captured. They could program the game to end when "numberOfLives" equals 0. (CA NGSS: 5-LS2-1) (CA CCSS for Mathematics 5.OA.3) Alternatively, when students create programs to draw regular polygons, they could use variables to store the line size, line color, and/or side length. Students can extend learning by creatively combining a variety of polygons to create digital artwork, comparing and contrasting this to another work of art made by the use of different art tools and media, such as watercolor or tempera paints. (CA CCSS for Mathematics 3.G.1) (VAPA Visual Arts 3.1.4)

Standard Identifier: 3-5.AP.12

Grade Range: 3–5
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Control
Practice(s): Creating Computational Artifacts (5.2)

Standard:
Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.

Descriptive Statement:
Control structures specify the order (sequence) in which instructions are executed within a program and can be combined to support the creation of more complex programs. Events allow portions of a program to run based on a specific action. Conditionals allow for the execution of a portion of code in a program when a certain condition is true. Loops allow for the repetition of a sequence of code multiple times. For example, students could program an interactive map of the United States of America. They could use events to initiate a question when the user clicks on a state and conditionals to check whether the user input is correct. They could use loops to repeat the question until the user answers correctly or to control the length of a "congratulations" scenario that plays after a correct answer. (HSS.5.9) Alternatively, students could write a math fluency game that asks products of two one-digit numbers and then uses a conditional to check whether or not the answer that was entered is correct. They could use a loop to repeatedly ask another question. They could use events to allow the user to click on a green button to play again or a red button to end the game. (CA CCSS for Mathematics 3.OA.7) Additionally, students could create a program as a role-playing game based on a literary work. Loops could be used to animate a character's movement. When reaching a decision point in the story, an event could initiate the user to type a response. A conditional could change the setting or have the story play out differently based on the user input. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy RL.5.3)

Standard Identifier: 3-5.AP.14

Grade Range: 3–5
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Modularity
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions, Creating Computational Artifacts (4.2, 5.3)

Standard:
Create programs by incorporating smaller portions of existing programs, to develop something new or add more advanced features.

Descriptive Statement:
Programs can be broken down into smaller parts, which can be incorporated into new or existing programs. Students incorporate predefined functions into their original designs. At this level, students do not need to understand all of the underlying implementation details of the abstractions that they use. For example, students could use code from a ping pong animation to make a ball bounce in a new basketball game. They could also incorporate code from a single-player basketball game to create a two-player game with slightly different rules. Alternatively, students could remix an animated story and add their own conclusion and/or additional dialogue. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy W.3.3.B, W.3.3.D, W.4.3.B, W.4.3.E, W.5.3.B, W.5.3.E) Additionally, when creating a game that occurs on the moon or planets, students could incorporate and modify code that simulates gravity on Earth. They could modify the strength of the gravitational force based on the mass of the planet or moon. (CA NGSS: 5-PS2-1)

Showing 1 - 10 of 46 Standards


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