Computer science and engineering design (CSED)

½ technology credit and ½ art credit; semester I or II

Students in this course develop an understanding of computer science principles while exploring coding from an aesthetic perspective. Students who are curious about computing or art and want to explore these subjects in a supportive atmosphere find this course a good match. Topics of study include an introduction to programming using the Processing language, with special attention given to creating interactive and generative art, and exploring topics in interactive installation art/physical computing. (Processing is a variation of Java, originally developed for the use of artists, but now used by journalists and scientists for data visualization.) Students also work in the MILL to construct how their projects might look, using laser cutting, 3D printing and soldering. The course follows a workshop format, with a final portfolio of project work to be assessed. The course is entry level, though students with more programming (or more arts) experience are welcome. Project work is differentiated as needed to accommodate these variations.

½ technology credit and ½ art credit; semester I or II

In this course, students learn design thinking and creation skills. They work to plan, design, and make basic physical objects or structures related to contemporary concepts, trends and technology applications. Most of the work occurs in a collaborative classroom framework and students learn skills for idea generation, planning, team building, and group critique of ideas and products. Research informs projects and students gain methods for innovating new solutions to continuing real-world challenges.

1 credit; full year

This course is for students with varied levels of background in this subject area. Engineering, coding and the application of various STEM skills are points of study and practice in this course, and intermediate and advanced concepts in the field of robotics are examined and studied through the exciting lens of collaborative teamwork. The course is designed to be a curricular support for the high school robotics program; however, enrollment in the course is not a prerequisite to participate in the robotics program and participation in the program is not a prerequisite to enroll in the course.

½ technology credit; semester I or II

Students explore a computer programming language by creating animations, games and practical applications. This course is a rigorous, thorough grounding in programming fundamentals, covering conditionals, loops, functions, objects and arrays. Students end the course by designing and creating a program or game of their choice. The course prepares students for AP Computer Science A; no prior experience is required.

½ technology credit; semester I or II
Prerequisite: Introduction to Programming, Art and Code, or commensurate experience and approval of instructor

This hands-on coding lab provides students with prior coding experience the opportunity to develop computer models that illuminate and extend content being covered in the general integrated science curriculum for Grades 9 and 10.  Students will work with a variety of software tools and development environments to build and evaluate models that generate new insight into scientific phenomena.

1 technology credit; full year

Prerequisite: Introduction to Programming, Art and Code, or Coding Lab

This course is a full-year, rigorous, AP course that introduces high school students to the foundations of modern computing and computer science. The course covers a broad range of foundational topics such as programming, algorithms, the internet, big data, digital privacy and security, and the societal impacts of computing.

1 technology credit; full year
Prerequisite: Introduction to Programming or Coding Lab, concurrent enrollment in Algebra II or higher

This university-level computer science course, taught using the Java programming language, follows the curriculum outlined by the College Board. Object-oriented programming techniques, including class declaration, inheritance and polymorphism, are emphasized. In addition, students study elementary algorithms, including sorting, binary search, recursion, and algorithms on arrays. Students take the AP Computer Science A exam.

½ technology credit; semester I or II

Prerequisite: Introduction to Programming, Integrated Science Coding Lab

In this course, students are exposed to a number of topics in the field of data science. They work through several case studies using sample data that they have to preprocess, clean and filter before applying a range of data analysis techniques. These include importing the data to a database to write and execute queries, generating visualizations of the data and applying machine learning techniques to be able to make predictions based on the data. Students also learn how machine learning algorithms can learn biases that may be embedded within a set of data. The course also incorporates projects in which students make use of a data set of their own choosing and apply the techniques they have learned to reach their desired goal.

Grade 12, ½ credit or full credit, semester I and/or II
Prerequisite: Design and Engineering and application with approval from department

This course provides the opportunity for students to utilize the materials, technology and expertise available in the MILL to develop their design/engineering ideas. Students apply their knowledge of design thinking practices and work with the MILL co-teacher to plan and carry out a design project focused on their passions. Ongoing dialogue with other apprentice students and the MILL co-teacher enables students to develop new making/design skills throughout the year. 

½ technology credit or ½ science credit; semester II

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Integrated Science in Grades 9 and 10 and Intro to Programming or Integrated Science Coding Lab

The most interesting and useful physical systems are often too complicated to solve directly with basic physical principles. Patterns of complex or chaotic motion, and systems with many interacting bodies, often rely on computational modeling and simulation in order to be solved. In this course, students work through examining and designing models and simulations for some classically intractable problems related to space travel and orbital motion, and thermodynamics. The course culminates in a simulation that provides a physical solution of the individual student’s choice and design.

½ technology credit; semester I
Prerequisite: AP Computer Science A or Data Science

Moving beyond software to consider the hardware platform on which computer programs are executed, this course provides an initial glimpse into digital electronics, logic circuits and computer architecture. Students engage in a mix of hands-on labs and electronics simulations that reveal how computers think. Starting with the physical representation of data as electronic signals and the principles of logic, students construct progressively more sophisticated circuits that mirror the memory, storage and processes of a modern computer system. The semester concludes with an introduction to the LC-3 instruction set architecture (ISA) revealing the bridge between software and hardware and illustrating how high-level computing languages (C, Java, Python) are translated into electronic instructions appropriate for execution on a generic computing platform.

½ technology credit; semester II
Prerequisite: AP Computer Science A or Data Science

Students with significant computer science experience are afforded the opportunity to design and develop an original game or application for a handheld device or computer. The core of this course is that students learn requirements gathering, time management, designing, coding, testing and documenting. Students examine a variety of development environments and select one suited to their project. Students consider and incorporate user-interface requirements and may design and incorporate novel hardware devices.