Game Design, Computer Science, and App Development
BYOB: This is the free programming software we are using in our Introduction to Computer Science class.
Kodu: Kodu lets you create games on the PC and XBox via a simple visual programming language. Anyone can use Kodu to make a game with no design or programming skills.Scratch: With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community.
GameSalad Creator: There’s no faster or easier way to develop games than with GameSalad Creator. Its visual, drag & drop interface and complex behavior library provide almost limitless freedom to game designers. Bring your work to life in hours and days instead of weeks and months. It’s all capable with GameSalad Creator!
Tynker: Tynker is a new computing platform designed specifically to teach children programming skills and computational thinking in a fun and imaginative way. Built by technology veterans to inspire their own children, and children everywhere, to understand and enjoy programming through building games, mobile apps, creating music, animating drawings and more.
AppsBar: Appsbar was designed to fill the gap between over-simplified apps and costly, professionally-produced apps. It presents myriad personalization opportunities with a unique interface that guides creators through the entire process – from creation, to editing, to publication - with visual and textual clues at each step. As creators build apps page by page, each app becomes more personalized through limitless combinations of background colors and fonts and the ability to upload images and videos from personal libraries.
SNAP!: This is the alpha version of BYOB. The cool part is that you can use it right inside our browser on any device!
Khan Academy: Learn the fundamentals of programming on the Khan Academy Computer Science platform. Explore programs made by others. Write your own programs and share them!
Code Academy
Unity: Game Engine: lThe free version of Unity for Windows. Includes publishing support for iOS, Android, Windows Store, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, desktop and Web, and a 30 day trial of Unity Pro (with Pro publishing for iOS, Android, Windows Store, Windows Phone and BlackBerry).
Code.org: Tons of great tutorials online for free!
Coursera: The world's best courses, online, for free.
PSCSTA Programming competitions and Talks
PSCSTA (Puget Sound Computer Science Teachers' Association) conducts periodic programming contests where high school kids can partiticipate and win cool prizes. They also have free workshops on new things you can learn like languages etc, STEM Talks etc. from time to time. A great resource to further your learning even after the course ends.
http://www.pscsta.org
Microsoft High School Summer Internship program! (For juniors and seniors only)
http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/high-school-intern-program.aspx#tab_urhighschoolintern-1
Kodu: Kodu lets you create games on the PC and XBox via a simple visual programming language. Anyone can use Kodu to make a game with no design or programming skills.Scratch: With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community.
GameSalad Creator: There’s no faster or easier way to develop games than with GameSalad Creator. Its visual, drag & drop interface and complex behavior library provide almost limitless freedom to game designers. Bring your work to life in hours and days instead of weeks and months. It’s all capable with GameSalad Creator!
Tynker: Tynker is a new computing platform designed specifically to teach children programming skills and computational thinking in a fun and imaginative way. Built by technology veterans to inspire their own children, and children everywhere, to understand and enjoy programming through building games, mobile apps, creating music, animating drawings and more.
AppsBar: Appsbar was designed to fill the gap between over-simplified apps and costly, professionally-produced apps. It presents myriad personalization opportunities with a unique interface that guides creators through the entire process – from creation, to editing, to publication - with visual and textual clues at each step. As creators build apps page by page, each app becomes more personalized through limitless combinations of background colors and fonts and the ability to upload images and videos from personal libraries.
SNAP!: This is the alpha version of BYOB. The cool part is that you can use it right inside our browser on any device!
Khan Academy: Learn the fundamentals of programming on the Khan Academy Computer Science platform. Explore programs made by others. Write your own programs and share them!
Code Academy
Unity: Game Engine: lThe free version of Unity for Windows. Includes publishing support for iOS, Android, Windows Store, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, desktop and Web, and a 30 day trial of Unity Pro (with Pro publishing for iOS, Android, Windows Store, Windows Phone and BlackBerry).
Code.org: Tons of great tutorials online for free!
Coursera: The world's best courses, online, for free.
PSCSTA Programming competitions and Talks
PSCSTA (Puget Sound Computer Science Teachers' Association) conducts periodic programming contests where high school kids can partiticipate and win cool prizes. They also have free workshops on new things you can learn like languages etc, STEM Talks etc. from time to time. A great resource to further your learning even after the course ends.
http://www.pscsta.org
Microsoft High School Summer Internship program! (For juniors and seniors only)
http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/high-school-intern-program.aspx#tab_urhighschoolintern-1
Available Courses
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE
Length / Credit: 1 Year / 1 Credit
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Graduation Requirement: Occ. Ed., 3rd yr Math or Elective
PREREQUISTES: Geometry
It is essential that students taking Honors (pre AP) and AP courses understand the demanding nature of the work. Only those students who understand the requirements are encouraged to enroll. Details can be found on the MSHS website.
PURPOSE: Designed to prepare students to take the College Board AP Computer Science exam, this challenging class is for those students who are interested in an in-depth course in computer programming. Students will learn to program fluently in the Java language, with emphasis on problem solving, computer science theory, application, algorithm design, programming style, and documentation. Cost: There is a fee for the Advanced Placement Exam. The exam is optional.
COMPUTER ACADEMY I
Length / Credit: 1 Semester / 0.5 Credit
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Graduation Requirement: Occ. Ed. or Elective
PURPOSE: This information and communications technology
(ICT) course will guide students toward a career in computer technology. While learning to build, install, configure, diagnose and maintain computer system, students will also investigate the skills necessary to support the needs of businesses, such as safety and environmental issues,
communication, and professionalism. This program is designed to prepare students for the CompTIA A+ Certification Exam
COMPUTER ACADEMY II
Length / Credit: 1 Semester / 0.5 Credit
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Graduation Requirement: Occ. Ed. or Elective
PURPOSE: This information and communications technology (ICT) course will guide students toward a career in computer technology. While investigating the fundamentals of computer operating systems, students will learn to install and upgrade client systems, configure and maintain operating systems, and manage applications and devices. Additional topics such as network infrastructures, networking protocols & services, computer programming, and database management may also be explored. This program is associated with the Microsoft IT Academy and is designed to prepare students for certification as a Microsoft Technology Associate.
May repeat class.
COMPUTER & VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT
Length / Credit: 1 Semester / 0.5 Credit
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Graduation Requirement: Occ. Ed. or Elective
PURPOSE: This exciting Computer Science course teaches students the fundamentals of computer programming and allows them to apply those skills to game creation. Using the Microsoft XNA Game Studio, a combination of the C# programming language and Microsoft XNA Framework, students will explore game and simulation development as communication and art to create their own video games for the PC, Xbox 360, Zune and Windows Phone.
COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTRO
Length / Credit: 1 Semester / 0.5 Credit
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Graduation Requirement: Occ. Ed. or Elective
PURPOSE: Introduction to Computer Science will develop the computer science skills of algorithm development, problem solving, and programming. The course is designed for students curious about computing careers. Students will be introduced to topics such as interface design, limits of computers and societal and ethical issues of software engineering. This course will emphasize a project-based
integrated format of lessons that emphasize a way of problem solving and thinking as a computer scientist. This course will serve as a good introduction to Computer & Video Game Development and AP Computer Science.
Major Projects
Mario
Pong