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Computer Science Standards




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Showing 1 - 10 of 17 Standards

Standard Identifier: K-2.AP.11

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Variables
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.4)

Standard:
Model the way programs store data.

Descriptive Statement:
Information in the real world can be represented in computer programs. Students model the digital storage of data by transforming real-world information into symbolic representations that include text, numbers, and images. For example, after identifying symbols on a map and explaining what they represent in the real world, students could create their own symbols and corresponding legend to represent items on a map of their classroom (HSS.K.4.3, 1.2.3, 2.2.2) Alternatively, students could invent symbols to represent beat and/or pitch. Students could then modify symbols within the notation and explain how the musical phrase changes. (VAPA Music K.1.1, 1.1.1, 2.1.1, 2.2.2)

Standard Identifier: K-2.DA.7

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Data & Analysis
Subconcept: Storage
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.2)

Standard:
Store, copy, search, retrieve, modify, and delete information using a computing device, and define the information stored as data.

Descriptive Statement:
Information from the real world can be stored and processed by a computing device. When stored on a computing device, it is referred to as data. Data can include images, text documents, audio files, and video files. Students store, copy, search, retrieve, modify, and delete information using a computing device and define the information stored as data. For example, students could produce a story using a computing device, storing it locally or remotely (e.g., in the cloud). They could then make a copy of the story for peer revision and editing. When the final copy of the story is complete, students delete any unnecessary files. They search for and retrieve data from a local or remote source, depending on where it was stored. (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy W.K.6, W.K.5, W1.6, W.1.5, W.2.6, W.2.5) Alternatively, students could record their voices singing an age-appropriate song. They could store the data on a computing device, search for peers' audio files, retrieve their own files, and delete unnecesary takes. (VAPA Music K.2.2, 1.2.2, 2.2.2)

Standard Identifier: K-2.DA.9

Grade Range: K–2
Concept: Data & Analysis
Subconcept: Inference & Models
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.1)

Standard:
Identify and describe patterns in data visualizations, such as charts or graphs, to make predictions.

Descriptive Statement:
Data can be used to make inferences or predictions about the world. For example, students could record the number of each color of candy in a small packet. Then, they compare their individual data with classmates. Students could use the collected data to predict how many of each colored candy will be in a full size bag of like candy. (CA CCSS for Mathematics K.MD.3, 1.MD.4, 2.MD.10) Alternatively, students could sort and classify objects according to their properties and note observations. Students could then create a graph or chart of their observations and look for connections/relationships (e.g., items that are hard are usually also smooth, or items that are fluffy are usually also light in weight.) Students then look at pictures of additional objects and make predictions regarding the properties of the objects pictured. (CA NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2)

Standard Identifier: 3-5.CS.2

Grade Range: 3–5
Concept: Computing Systems
Subconcept: Hardware & Software
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.4)

Standard:
Demonstrate how computer hardware and software work together as a system to accomplish tasks.

Descriptive Statement:
Hardware and software are both needed to accomplish tasks with a computing device. Students create a model to illustrate ways in which hardware and software work as a system. Students could draw a model on paper or in a drawing program, program an animation to demonstrate it, or demonstrate it by acting this out in some way. At this level, a model should only include the basic elements of a computer system, such as input, output, processor, sensors, and storage. For example, students could create a diagram or flow chart to indicate how a keyboard, desktop computer, monitor, and word processing software interact with each other. The keyboard (hardware) detects a key press, which the operating system and word processing application (software) displays as a new character that has been inserted into the document and is visible through the monitor (hardware). Students could also create a model by acting out the interactions of these different hardware and software components. Alternatively, when describing that animals and people receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways, students could compare this to the interaction of how the information traveling through a computer from mouse to processor are similar to signals sent through the nervous system telling our brain about the world around us to prompt responses. (CA NGSS: 4-LS1-2)

Standard Identifier: 3-5.DA.7

Grade Range: 3–5
Concept: Data & Analysis
Subconcept: Storage
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.2)

Standard:
Explain that the amount of space required to store data differs based on the type of data and/or level of detail.

Descriptive Statement:
All saved data requires space to store it, whether locally or not (e.g., on the cloud). Music, images, video, and text require different amounts of storage. Video will often require more storage and different format than music or images alone because video combines both. The level of detail represented by that data also affects storage requirements. For instance, two pictures of the same object can require different amounts of storage based upon their resolution, and a high-resolution photo could require more storage than a low-resolution video. Students select appropriate storage for their data. For example, students could create an image using a standard drawing app. They could save the image in different formats (e.g., .png, .jpg, .pdf) and compare file sizes. They should also notice that different file sizes can result in differences in quality or resolution (e.g., some pictures could be more pixelated while some could be sharper). Alternatively, in an unplugged activity, students could represent images by coloring in squares within a large grid. They could model how a larger grid requires more storage but also represents a clearer image (i.e., higher resolution).

Standard Identifier: 6-8.AP.16

Grade Range: 6–8
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Program Development
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions, Creating Computational Artifacts, Communicating About Computing (4.2, 5.2, 7.3)

Standard:
Incorporate existing code, media, and libraries into original programs, and give attribution.

Descriptive Statement:
Building on the work of others enables students to produce more interesting and powerful creations. Students use portions of code, algorithms, digital media, and/or data created by others in their own programs and websites. They give attribution to the original creators to acknowledge their contributions. For example, when creating a side-scrolling game, students may incorporate portions of code that create a realistic jump movement from another person's game, and they may also import Creative Commons-licensed images to use in the background. Alternatively, when creating a website to demonstrate their knowledge of historical figures from the Civil War, students may use a professionally-designed template and public domain images of historical figures. (HSS.8.10.5) Additionally, students could import libraries and connect to web application program interfaces (APIs) to make their own programming processes more efficient and reduce the number of bugs (e.g., to check whether the user input is a valid date, to input the current temperature from another city).

Standard Identifier: 6-8.DA.7

Grade Range: 6–8
Concept: Data & Analysis
Subconcept: Storage
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.4)

Standard:
Represent data in multiple ways.

Descriptive Statement:
Computers store data as sequences of 0s and 1s (bits). Software translates to and from this low-level representation to higher levels that are understandable by people. Furthermore, higher level data can be represented in multiple ways, such as the digital display of a color and its corresponding numeric RGB value, or a bar graph, a pie chart, and table representation of the same data in a spreadsheet. For example, students could use a color picker to explore the correspondence between the digital display or name of a color (high-level representations) and its RGB value or hex code (low-level representation). Alternatively, students could translate a word (high-level representation) into Morse code or its corresponding sequence of ASCII codes (low-level representation).

Standard Identifier: 6-8.DA.9

Grade Range: 6–8
Concept: Data & Analysis
Subconcept: Inference & Models
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions, Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts (4.4, 6.1)

Standard:
Test and analyze the effects of changing variables while using computational models.

Descriptive Statement:
Variables within a computational model may be changed, in order to alter a computer simulation or to more accurately represent how various data is related. Students interact with a given model, make changes to identified model variables, and observe and reflect upon the results. For example, students could test a program that makes a robot move on a track by making changes to variables (e.g., height and angle of track, size and mass of the robot) and discussing how these changes affect how far the robot travels. (CA NGSS: MS-PS2-2) Alternatively, students could test a game simulation and change variables (e.g., skill of simulated players, nature of opening moves) and analyze how these changes affect who wins the game. (CA NGSS: MS-ETS1-3) Additionally, students could modify a model for predicting the likely color of the next pick from a bag of colored candy and analyze the effects of changing variables representing the common color ratios in a typical bag of candy. (CA CCSS for Mathematics 7.SP.7, 8.SP.4)

Standard Identifier: 9-12.AP.13

Grade Range: 9–12
Concept: Algorithms & Programming
Subconcept: Variables
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.1)

Standard:
Create more generalized computational solutions using collections instead of repeatedly using simple variables.

Descriptive Statement:
Computers can automate repetitive tasks with algorithms that use collections to simplify and generalize computational problems. Students identify common features in multiple segments of code and substitute a single segment that uses collections (i.e., arrays, sets, lists) to account for the differences. For example, students could take a program that inputs students' scores into multiple variables and modify it to read these scores into a single array of scores. Alternatively, instead of writing one procedure to find averages of student scores and another to find averages of student absences, students could write a single general average procedure to support both tasks.

Standard Identifier: 9-12.CS.1

Grade Range: 9–12
Concept: Computing Systems
Subconcept: Devices
Practice(s): Developing and Using Abstractions (4.1)

Standard:
Describe ways in which abstractions hide the underlying implementation details of computing systems to simplify user experiences.

Descriptive Statement:
An abstraction is a representation of an idea or phenomenon that hides details irrelevant to the question at hand. Computing systems, both stand alone and embedded in products, are often integrated with other systems to simplify user experiences. For example, students could identify geolocation hardware embedded in a smartphone and describe how this simplifies the users experience since the user does not have to enter her own location on the phone. Alternatively, students might select an embedded device such as a car stereo, identify the types of data (e.g., radio station presets, volume level) and procedures (e.g., increase volume, store/recall saved station, mute) it includes, and explain how the implementation details are hidden from the user.

Showing 1 - 10 of 17 Standards


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