AP CS A 2021-2022

AP Computer Science A is a college level course that teaches the fundamentals of computer science programming.

In 2021-2022, the course will teach:

• Python (until Thanksgiving)
• Java Fundamentals
• Data Structures in Java (post-AP)

Overview

There are two phases of the class that most people are interested in: the introduction in Python and then the main part in Java.

Python

We will learn Python based on Allen Downey’s How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (Online, book).

We will continue to work on project management skills, writing games like peg jumper, nine man’s morris, Connect Four or Reversi.

These will quickly involve working with lists.

Java

We use a mix of sources. The best online practice site is CodingBat. We have used Litvin’s Java Methods in the past. During the pandemic year we used Blue Pelican Java - the book can be downloaded for $0.

Java is a blub language designed for big business use. Languages like Java are everywhere. You will definitely use them if you continue in computer science. However, it is not usually considered sleek and elegant.

Data Structures

At the end of the course we will make our own homemade versions of important data structures like linked lists, trees, and hash tables. These cartoon versions will give you an intuition how the “real thing” works without all of the details.