List of 12 items.

• Grade 1

  Grade 1 students learn to use technology for creative expression and how to access age-appropriate information. Children improve their fine motor skills as they practice using a mouse and tablet touch screen. They create their own media in a variety of tools including Wixie, a cloud-based authoring software for children. They experience introductory programming concepts in multiple environments including Bee-Bot robots and Scratch Jr. for iPad designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

• Grade 2

  In Grade 2, students produce original, imaginative work. They learn how to create an animation that communicates an idea, and how to make multimedia presentations with images, including photos they take, and sounds. They become proficient with planning programs to control Bee-Bot robots and build their knowledge of coding in multiple environments.

• Grade 3

  Students in Grade 3 access information by logging into the school website, practicing keyboarding by using Typing Pal Online and become more experienced in the presentation of finished work using a variety of tools. They discover how to control the flow of electricity through a circuit. Basic programming using Scratch, a program developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is a highlight of the year.

• Grade 4

  Students in Grade 4 explore the question, “How do inventors work?” They use circuit kits, write more complex computer programs and invent robots to solve challenges. They participate in publishing, graphing, presentation, and word-processing activities in their core classes. Many choose to join our after-school robotics program, where they experience two additional programming environments.

• Grade 5

  Building on the programming skills learned and practiced in the lower grades, Grade 5 students collaborate on project teams as they develop ideas for how engineers share work fairly. They design robots and make movies to document their process. Many choose to continue with robotics after-school. All students learn game programming and practice participating constructively and safely in an online community.

• Grade 6

  Robotics - Fall Trimester

  New offering for the 2018-2019 school year. Students in Robotics will learn how to build and program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 robot using various Lego parts, motors, and sensors. Students will enhance their problem solving skills as they work to get their robot to perform certain tasks and find solutions to real world problems. Students interested in the robotics club should take this course. Maximum of 16 students can enroll.
  
  

  Digital Game Design - Winter Trimester

  Students in Digital Game Design will design, create, play, and evaluate various games. Students in the course will construct a board game using fabrication tools, program an original digital game, and build their own video game controller using a Makey Makey. Maximum of 18 students can enroll.

   
  
  

  Digital Arts - Spring Trimester

  Students in Digital Art will use various digital tools to create and edit photos, audio, and videos to express their creativity. Tools students may use throughout the course include digital cameras and camcorders, Pixlr, Camtasia and other resources. Maximum of 18 students can enroll.

   

  
  

• Grade 7

  Digital Arts – Arts Electives for 7th and 8th Graders
  
  Arts and Bots
  This course will allow students to combine craft materials with robotic components to build and animate their own robotic creations using Scratch, an already familiar visual programming language. Students will create an individual project that focuses on design, programming, and creativity.

  
  Computer Programming
  This course is designed to allow students to visually program computer games and animations. Using Alice Animation, which was originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University, students learn the basics of programming that are transferable to all programming languages. This course also emphasizes basic computer skills essential to success in the Middle School.

  
  Digital Design Challenge
  This course is for students who have already taken a digital arts course in either 7th or 8th grade. Students will receive escalating challenges that test their programming, building, collaborating, and design skills. Projects will be based on student interest and available technologies in the digital arts lab. This course will be offered third term for students who wish to take the required prerequisites in the first or second terms.

  
  Digital Storytelling
  Digital Storytelling focuses on the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. The class uses technology to enhance creativity and communication through a variety of digital media. Students work on creating their own stories using images, music, narrative, and animation. A variety of digital and web based tools will be used to create comics, digital presentation stories, and public service announcement videos.

  
  Robotics
  This course is designed to allow students hands-on construction of robots, while using an icon-based programming language to assemble a computer program. Using Lego EV3 software and building sets, students learn the basics of programming and robotics that are transferrable to all programming languages.

• Grade 8

  Digital Arts – Arts Electives for 7th and 8th Graders 
  
  Arts and Bots
  This course will allow students to combine craft materials with robotic components to build and animate their own robotic creations using Scratch, an already familiar visual programming language. Students will create an individual project that focuses on design, programming and creativity.

  
  Computer Programming 
  This course is designed to allow students to visually program computer games and animations. Using Alice Animation, which was originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University, students learn the basics of programming that are transferable to all programming languages. This course also emphasizes basic computer skills essential to success in the Middle School.

  
  Digital Design Challenge
  This course is for students who have already taken a digital arts course in either 7th or 8th grades. Students will receive escalating challenges that test their programming, building, collaborating, and design skills. Projects will be based on student interest and available technologies in the digital arts lab. This course will be offered third term for students who wish to take the required prerequisites in the first or second terms.

  
  Digital Storytelling 
  Digital Storytelling focuses on the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. The class uses technology to enhance creativity and communication through a variety of digital media. Students work on creating their own stories using images, music, narrative, and animation. A variety of digital and web based tools will be used to create comics, digital presentation stories, and public service announcement videos.

  
  Robotics
  This course is designed to allow students hands on construction of robots, while using an icon-based programming language to assemble a computer program. Using Lego EV3 software and building sets, students learn the basics of programming and robotics that are transferrable to all programming languages.

• Grade 9

  Programming and robotics form the core of the program in Grades 9-12. Programming courses teach students fundamental concepts such as Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), variables and constants, decision structures, methods, debugging, and basic graphics. Students can elect to take Robotics I, Robotics II, and/or Robotics III, or they can pursue Java programming by taking Introduction to Programming, Programming II, and/or Programming III.
  

• Grade 10

  Advanced programming courses are available to students that have completed the introductory programming courses.  Students may elect to take Advanced Placement Computer Science A, which covers computer systems, data types, computer algorithms, data structures, and other programming concepts in an object-oriented environment using the Java programming language. Students may also pursue Advanced Robotics at this time.

• Grade 11

  Computer Science Interactive Design and Development is offered to students that have completed Advanced Placement Computer Science A, where they have the opportunity to use and strengthen their skills in programming and logic, math, communication, critical and creative thinking, and problem solving. Students learn how to design and program human/computer interactive devices. The course offers an exciting introduction to the technical and artistic concepts and techniques of design and programming software applications and video games.

• Grade 12

  Most seniors that have completed the programming series move on to pursue an Independent Study in a specialized area of Computer Science. They may also elect to take the robotics courses and/or other electives that may be offered.