Curriculum
The Computer Science Program at Poly's Upper School currently consists of four offerings:
- Computer Science (Introduction)
This one-semester introduction to computers and computer science is taught using the Python programming language. (Available to students grades 10-12.) - Exploring Math with Programming
This one-semester course uses Python programming as a tool to review and explore trigonometry, matrices, and complex numbers in this project-based course. Some previous familiarity with Python helpful. (Available to students grades 10-12.) - Advanced Placement Computer Science A
This one-year introductory course uses the Java programming language, and is more intense and abstract than the Introduction course. It is still suitable for students who have had little or no experience with programming. (Available to students grades 11-12.) - Advanced Topics in Computer Science
This one-semester course is Python-based, and develops some of the important abstract concepts of Computer Science in detail. (Available to students who have completed either the Introduction or AP Computer Science courses.)
A handout with further information regarding each class is available here [PDF].
Prospective students who are interested in learning a bit more about each of the introductory courses are encouraged to view the courses on their course webpages:
- Computer Science
- Exploring Math with Programming
- AP Computer Science
- Advanced Topics in Computer Science
Students are also encouraged to talk with students who have taken the courses previously or email the instructors with questions.
A welcoming environment
Polytechnic Upper School Computer Science courses are open to everyone. All interested students, regardless of skill level, gender, or ethnicity, are encouraged to join us!
Classes are conducted in a relaxed, cooperative, and welcoming atmosphere, and there is a strict anti-harassment Code of Conduct for our courses.
Resources & Events
References and resources are available to students who wish to pursue their own study outside of formal courses.
- Check out books from our technical library.
- Check out a Micro:bit to play with and study
- Borrow a Raspberry Pi to experiment with Linux.
- Borrow an Arduino, and build something with servos.
Other Computer-Science Events at Poly include:
- Poly's semi-annual "Capture the Flag" event
- The "Computer Science for Adults" evening series
- The Machine Learning group
- Intro to Website Development and Hosting workshops
"Should I take a Computer Science / Coding class?"
It's a common question, especially as our world becomes increasingly technology-based. Schools ask students to take science courses not because they are all going to go on to become scientists, but because we value scientific literacy in our society.
In a similar way, having a level of computational literacy is increasingly valuable to us all.
As a Computer Science instructor, I don't believe all students should be required to take coding classes. But the majority of students probably should take a computer science class. Some will go on to work in computer science-related fields, of course, but we all live in a world dominated by technology.
Scientists use computers. Writers have websites. Artists have computer-based portfolios. Business people read these articles in Bloomberg Businessweek and The Economist and quickly realize... we all need to know a little more about technology.
Why?
- Chat-GPT
- computer-based businesses and services
- technology-based automation
- robots
- drones
- banking
- virtual currency
- privacy
- metadata collection
- social networking
- search engines
- machine learning
- artificial intelligence
- self-driving cars
- encryption
- security
- data breaches
- Digital Rights Management
- Open Source
- Big Data
- the Internet
- the Internet of Things
- . . .
These are all facets of our society... and this is just a short list of the technologies we have now.
Learning Computer Science is an important part of everyone's education.
We hope you'll join us!
If you'd like to learn more, feel free to contact Richard White or Dominic Rosato. We teach Computer Science at the Polytechnic School, and are happy to answer any questions you might have.