AP Computer Science
Posted: June 9th, 2009 | Author: starrc@cs.cofc.edu | Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »Is AP Computer Science (APCS) doing anything to broaden participation in computer science? I’ve been thinking about this question lately and even more after reading Mark Guzdial’s Amazon Blog on the topic < http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK1FSG5UQJ2R5MK >.
I used to think of APCS as the solution (in the 1990s) then as a benign anachronism (in the 2000s). I now believe that APCS unnecessarily constrains capable high school computer science teachers in order to prepare students for the exam. I also believe that students in APCS have already self-selected into the discipline thus APCS offers little power to broaden participation. So I respectfully disagree with Dr. Guzdial. Offering APCS in more high schools may only broaden participation linearly at best.
As chair of a computer science department, I relish new freshmen with APCS coursework, don’t get me wrong, but the value is in the experience not the exam or the transfer credit. Engaging and motivating students in the 8th and 9th grades through computer science courses built around problem contexts, multiple disciplines and current technologies may do more to broaden participation than all of the APCS we could ever offer.
To that end, a group of computer scientists in South Carolina are working together to broaden computing experiences in public and private high schools. We aim to excite students about computer science through a more relevant and broader exposure to computing principles (Peter Denning) and computational thinking (Jeannette Wing). APCS will be promoted too, but without constraining resources or the political will to do so much more for our students than we are doing today with APC
Chris Starr
Hi Chris! I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing. My blog post argued that the APCS isn’t impacting the decline in undergraduate enrollment. I agree that the current APCS doesn’t do much to broaden participation in computing. The new APCS that is in development is being designed to broaden participation in computing. More teachers + a new APCS may have the kind of impact that we’d like to see.
Mark
Agreed. I’m looking forward to the new APCS curriculum. In the mean time in SC, we will continue to work on new ways to engage middle and high school students in computing to increase the number of students who will consider taking the AP course(s). Under State Superintendent of Education, Jim Rex, we have a path forward for substantive change for South Carolina. I’m excited about the possibilities.
People are starting to get it. Computing is fundamental.