Columbine Computer Science STEM Pathway

SAMPLE SCHEDULE of Potential Choices for more Computer-Based Classes at CHS. This is only an example. IN CREATING A STUDENT’s HIGH SCHOOL PLAN, students should always consult with their Counselor & Guardians/Family in making decisions.
View the CHS Required Courses counseling page.

Considerations:

• View CHS Counseling Dept’s Requirements or 4-Year Timeline for Students
• Required 1 sem courses = Fine Art, PE, Economics
• Consider the IT-based April 20th Volunteerships in Computer Science → current plan is helping elderly with their technology, increasing communication using IT tools, and coming soon a Free Fix Day for the Community
• 2 years of Foreign Language is required for 4-year colleges (CU Boulder Requires 3 full years)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS & PLANNING                                                                                                                    

• ALL GRADES → Start Building a Portfolio of your work that shows what you can do. With each class you take, add more skills & examples
• 10th / 11th Grade → Apply to Warren Tech → Jan of Sophomore or Junior Year
• 10th Grade → Apply for CareerWise CO Internship 
• 11th Grade → Apply for Jeffco Executive Internship / Executive Internship at Lockheed Martin → Acceptance letters received by beginning of January
• 11th Grade → Tour colleges & get an idea where you want to study after high school
• 12th Grade → March → to 2/4-year College in late August / early Fall;
• 12th Grade → March → Apply to 2-year / Certification Programs
• 12th Grade → Women, students of color, students, apply for Lockheed Martin Engineering & Computer Science scholarship

COMPUTER SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS → Course Descriptions

• Programming → This is the Foundational Course for Computer Science. This yearlong course offers an introduction to computing, programming patterns, breakdown of computing information, web code, block-coding, an introduction to gaming, geometric design programming, number pattern recognition, introduction to security, technology ethics, etc. Students in this class work with a number of coding languages such as: Python or Java, HTML or CSS or JavaScript, Arduino, EarSketch, etc. in a variety of IDEs. Students may also choose to work in other supportive technologies including SketchUp, Blender, C#, Raspberry Pi, App Inventor, Greenfoot, XCode, Machine Code, Google Code, etc. Course includes option for with available ACC concurrent enrollment college credit with Arapahoe Community College for students who earn a B or better and complete all aspects of registration.
• APCSP (Programming II) → CS Programming is a prerequisite for this course, or by teacher evaluation. APCSP is a more in-depth study of Computer Science Programming, allowing students to complete many self-selected projects in preparation for the AP Exam. In addition to taking several practice exams and short data-based essays, students will create several simulation projects to prepare for their AP Exam Tasks including several Python written programs including basic math calculations, animation, sans-graphic game, lists, randomizers, probability problems, magic 8ball, as well as a SQL database, Construct 3 game, and their own app. They also need to use business savvy to display these code examples in a way that can be interpreted by the general public. In addition, important computer science topics will be discussed in class and as they come up in the news, affecting the future opportunities in CS.
• IT Essentials I & II → NEW COURSE. This is a hybrid course where students learn to install, manage, and secure computer hardware, IT Support, in home and corporate OS environments. This repeatable course combines hands-on construction and deconstruction of hardware components with online content using TestOut courseware and virtual lab simulations. Students will be preparing for industry certification while being challenged with real world scenarios. IT Essentials 2 - This is a continuation of IT Essentials I. Students utilize TestOut PC Pro courseware to prepare for industry certification combined with real world scenarios. Jeffco pays for TestOut Industry Certification in A+, Network Plus, Security Plus, etc; the company says it takes a year for each.
• Related STEM/STEAM Coursework

• Web Design →  course focuses on the design aspect of web design in Adobe Dreamweaver IDE including prototyping, project management, and is supported by HTML, CSS & JavaScript coding learned in Computer Programming, a suggested prerequisite for this Spring course. ACC concurrent enrollment college credit available. 1 semester course; may be repeated for advanced work; applies many concepts from Programming 1. This class participates in the CO Skills USA contest in Spring
• Digital Music Engineering → Digital Music Media Recording & Production is a semester-long elective introducing students to multi-track recording & sequencing, audio capturing, live sound production, composition & songwriting, Music Industry Standards, Ethical Responsibility of Music Production, FCC & Radio vs Online Streaming, etc. Grades 10 or older. May be repeated
• Beg Graphic Design (IL), Int Graphic Design (PS), & Adv Graphic Design (ID) → offers 3 semesters of Computer-Based Design with available ACC concurrent enrollment college credit and instruction in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign
• Animation →  course using Adobe Illustrator, Animate, After Affects & iMovie to create motion graphics and animated shorts. Course includes discussion of Industry Trends in Computer Graphics, anime, short film animation, production team management, practice with industry roles, visual story development, and online company brand recognition, entrepreneurship, promotion and advertising; 1 semester course; may be repeated
• Film & Video → Rebel News Network (RNN) daily student news show; may be repeated. ACC concurrent enrollment college credit available.
• Digital Electronics →  This applied maths & CS course includes instruction Resistors & Capacitors, Building Circuits, Digital Systems, Logic Gates, Logic Simplification, and Microcontroller Building, Programming & Communicating

• Other Useful & Related Course Offerings & Clubs

• BUSINESS →  Business, Internet Marketing, DECA
• CLUBS → Skills USA, Art Club, Robotics (dependent on student interest)
• COMPETITIONS & CONTESTS → DECA, Code Qwest, Skills USA
• VOLUNTEERSHIP: Helping Elderly work their technology → How Tos at library or nursing home

COMPUTER SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS → Program Pathway [ Suggested CS Course Progression ]

CS Dept Vision… [ IP ]

A mission statement focuses on today and what an organization does to achieve it. A mission statement drives your program.  Columbine High School offers What do we do?  Who does my program serve?  How does my program serve them? Columbine High School offers a broad variety of traditional subjects but STEM and Computer Based Arts & Sciences drive the academics into next century. Curriculum instruction in graphic design, multimedia, digital photography, web design, computer programming, electronics, digital music, and computer science fundamentals give students a creative based approach which allows them to conceive of ideas, design and build a reality. Open to all students, Computer Based Arts & Sciences make all their other subjects come alive, putting to use all the fundamentals taught in classical subjects to reality in preparation for today’s modern workforce. The program is supported by using the most current industry standard software with popular programming languages that could get them a job in today’s marketplace. If a student wishes to get started in STEAM or Computer Sciences, Columbine is THE place to try it out.

Students in Columbine’s Computer Arts & Sciences use current industry technologies to solve today’s modern problems. Students are skilled problem solvers proposing algorithms and putting to use new programs to make their tasks simpler and assisting others in our community. Many alumni from the Computer Arts & Sciences have already started building their own games, web pages, designs, audio, film and companies based on ideas they began as Columbine students. Most importantly, they return to talk about their ventures after moving on to post secondary education to teach others who aspire to follow in their footsteps.

Program Goals & CO Standards [ IP ]

• CO State CS Standards
• We are a 1:1 Google Chromebook School
• We want our students to be aware of data usage and how it affects them in a global way

CERTIFICATIONS

Partnering with Warren Technical High School, Arapahoe Community College Concurrent Enrollment & Certifications, Certiport and Advanced Placement, CHS builds a diverse Computing Foundation for Columbine Students. We offer the following Certifications:

• Warren Tech Partnership Offerings
• Arapahoe Community College (ACC) Concurrent Enrollment College Credit →

• Computer Programming (CWB 110)
• Web Design (CWB 130)
• Graphic Design (Multimedia Graphic Design Illustrator, Photoshop, etc)

• Arapahoe Community College Certificate Programs: Computer Information Systems Certificate, Computer Network Technology Certificate, Computer Technician Certificate
• Advanced Placement → AP Computer Science Principles, AP Graphic Design (by instructor permission),
• Adobe Certiport Certified Associate → Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver?, Animate? Or Microsoft Cert (ask Bryan Halsey)
• Additional Certifications → A+, Network Plus, Security Plus Certification (1 year each? These are also offered at ACC and Red Rocks for students wanting to enter the industry right after high school; with this certification, you can go straight to work). These concepts are taught in the IT Essentials course

CAREER PREP OPPORTUNITIES

• Skill-Based Project Portfolios RESUMES
• Industry Field Trip EVENTS  

• Jeffcon [planned ]
• Maker Faire [IP?]
• Spring Gamer / Anime Comiccon Convention [??]
• E3 ESports Gamer Convention [June 11-13?]

• INTERNSHIPS

• Executive Internship at Lockheed Martin
• CareerWise CO Internship (IPA with current 2021 students)
• In House Internship(s): Course TA, IT Essentials Geek Squad

• CONTESTS:

• March → Lockheed Martin’s Code Qwest 
• April → School of Mines Programming Competition [ IP ]

• Professional CO Organizations: CO Skills USA, CO Technology Student Association, DECA
• [ IP ] CAPSTONE PROJECT? with Community Expert SMEs to give feedback on student work?
• Guest Speakers? Career Research? Job Shadow?  [ IP ]