COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Balboa Academy Graduation Requirement: 1 Computer Science credit (s) in grades 9-12

All courses may be used an elective credits after the minimum credit needed for graduation is obtained.

Computer Applications 1                                  Grade (s) 9
Course # 505      Level:      Length: 1sem      Credit (s): 0.5 in Computer Science
Prerequisite (s): Computer Keyboarding proficiency

Major Concepts/Content: Computer Applications 1 is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to extend knowledge of and apply various software applications. Using an integrated environment, students will work with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, charts, and related graphics in Microsoft Office.

Major Instructional Activities: Program delivery will emphasize expertise in designing, creating and using spreadsheets and databases, reinforcement of word processing skills, introduction to presentations and an integration of the four programs. Students will use tutorials; on-screen help menus, reference materials, and other related items. Skill-building activities will be provided for practice.

Major Evaluative Techniques: Evaluation will be through the completion of projects and tests.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Select the appropriate application program for a problem.
• Use database management software to demonstrate an understanding of database design, creation, data input, data manipulation (search/sort/query), data editing, and report production.
• Use spreadsheet software to demonstrate an understanding of spreadsheet design (including what-if' questions), formula development, editing, formatting, and printing procedures.
• Create charts and graphs using spreadsheet data.
• Analyze and evaluate solutions.
• Integrate spreadsheets, databases, and graphics into word processing documents.
• Use presentation software to design, create, import data/graphics, edit, format, sequence, and produce a variety of presentations.
• Maintain files appropriately.

Computer Applications 2        No Longer Offered                  Grade (s) 10 - 12
Course #506      Level: College Prep      Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Computer Science
Prerequisite (s): Computer Applications I or practical demonstration of computer/software knowledge.

Major Concepts/Content: Computer Applications 2 is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to understand and apply various software applications. Emphasis will be on using single-table and multi-table relational databases in an integrated environment (spreadsheets, databases, graphics, word processing, and presentation software).

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will emphasize expertise in designing, creating, and integrating software applications. Students will use tutorials; on-screen help menus, reference materials, and other related items. Skill-building activities will be provided for practice.

Major Evaluative Techniques: Evaluation will be through the completion of projects and tests.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Use both single-table databases and multi-table relational databases.
• Integrate spreadsheets, databases, and graphics and word processing documents.
• Use presentation software to design, create, import data/graphics, edit, format, sequence, and produce a variety of presentations.
• Understand that many careers require skill in computer applications and software.

Computer Graphics 1                                                                Grade (s) 10 -12
Course # 507      Level: College Prep      Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Computer Science
Prerequisite (s): Computer Applications 1 or practical demonstration of computer/software knowledge.

Major Concepts/Content: Graphics design is a practical course designed for students with an interest in special computer topics to include desktop publishing, CAD and presentation graphics and web design.

Major Instructional Activities: Students will use software packages to create a variety of projects. Projects will incorporate graphic design techniques, principle of layout and design and various presentation mediums. Text and graphics will be acquired from a variety of available sources. Students may be encouraged to maintain a portfolio of completed work.

Major Assessment Techniques: Assessment will be accomplished by:

• Checking work in progress to ensure that timelines are developed and followed throughout the course.
• Successful completion of assignments
• Success may be demonstrated by class work, projects or other means deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Determine the appropriate situation for using desktop publishing or presentation graphics software.
• Demonstrate the ability to use software packages associated with publications and presentations.
• Use computer graphics to enhance communications.
• Learn layout and design techniques for publications and presentations.
• Use graphic input devices such as scanners, video captures, and other digital devices.
• Save graphics to various file formats.
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal and ethical aspects associated with using and modifying electronic clip art, scanned text and graphics.
• Demonstrate ability to work with reference materials, documentation and other related resources.
• Demonstrate the ethical use of computers.

Computer Graphics 2         No Longer Offered                          Grade (s) 11-12
Course # 513      Level: College Prep      Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Computer Science
Prerequisite (s): Computer Graphics

Major Concepts/Content: Graphics design is an advanced course designed for students with an interest in special computer graphics for Web Design

Major Instructional Activities: Students will use professional software packages to create a variety of Web projects. Projects will incorporate graphic design techniques, principle of layout and design and various presentation mediums. Text and graphics will be acquired from a variety of available sources. Students may be encouraged to maintain a portfolio of completed work.

Major Assessment Techniques: Assessment will be accomplished by:

• Checking work in progress to ensure that timelines are developed and followed throughout the course.
• Successful completion of assignments
• Success may be demonstrated by class work, projects or other means deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Determine the appropriate situation for using desktop publishing or presentation graphics software.
• Demonstrate the ability to use software packages associated with publications and presentations.
• Use computer graphics to enhance communications.
• Learn layout and design techniques for publications and presentations.
• Use graphic input devices such as scanners, video captures, and other digital devices.
• Save graphics to various file formats.
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal and ethical aspects associated with using and modifying electronic clip art, scanned text and graphics.
• Demonstrate ability to work with reference materials, documentation and other related resources.
• Demonstrate the ethical use of computers.

Computer Hardware (A+)                                             Grade (s) 11- 12
Course #508      Level:         Length: 0.5yr   Credit (s): 0.5 in Computer Science
Prerequisite (s): Computer Applications I or practical demonstration of computer/software knowledge.

Major Concepts/Content: 

Major Instructional Activities: learn to trouble shoot CPU components and replace,  Design, build and configure a new CPU with all drivers and software

Major Assessment Techniques: Assessment will be accomplished by: Projects

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to: trouble Shoot a CPU to determine a hardware problem and repair it.

Computer Hardware 2 (Networking)      No Longer Offered      Grade (s) 11-12
Course #509      Level:         Length: 0.5yr   Credit (s): 0.5 in Computer Science

Prerequisite (s): Computer hardware

Major Concepts/Content: Learn to design networks, setup network computers and trouble shoot network problems

Major Instructional Activities: learn basic networking design, setup and trouble shooting

Major Assessment Techniques: Assessment will be accomplished by: Projects

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:  trouble Shoot basic network problems to determine a hardware problem or software problem and repair it.

COMPUTER SCIENCE   No Longer Offered     Grade (s) 10-12

Course #510      Level:         Length: 0.5yr   Credit (s): 0.5 in Computer Science

Prerequisites: None

Major Obligations of Coursework: Various programming assignments in addition to standard homework, quizzes, and tests. All programs undergo rigorous design, implementation, and testing. A computer at home is helpful, but not required, as it is possible to complete all programming assignments at school.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to problem solving, logic, and algorithm design through computer programming. Students will use the C-H- computer language to learn and practice structured programming methodology and procedural abstraction. Other languages such as Java or Visual Basic may be introduced as alternative methods of problem solving.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS