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Author Topic: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?  (Read 2956 times)

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Offline SimpleMan

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High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
« on: July 09, 2024, 08:43:41 PM »
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  • Can anyone here recommend a good computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?

    I have in mind a basic computer science course, including programming, for a high school student of average academic ability.  I am not looking to spend mega-bucks.  It would be for a one-credit, full-year course meeting about four times a week.



    Offline MaterDominici

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    Re: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
    « Reply #2 on: July 10, 2024, 11:07:41 PM »
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  • Dominic used the AP computer science courses. They have two, the first of which he did half of it and declared it too basic to really learn much. I think it was more of the building block sort of coding rather than actually writing code. Then he did the 2nd course which is Java, took the exam and passed giving him credit for an equivalent college course.

    Only downside was the course he used is prerecorded with no access to the instructor. I'm sure you can find a live version, but it would be much more expensive.
    The prerecorded is $18/mon for as long as you want access to the course.
    https://homeschoolconnections.com/
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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
    « Reply #3 on: July 12, 2024, 10:24:38 PM »
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  • Thanks to everyone for your comments.  I went on a web search for high school computer resources, and everything I found was either too dated (used texts) or came across as a bit puerile.  Here's what I finally ended up getting:

    https://books.google.com/books/about/Computer_Science_Principles.html?id=7tLvzgEACAAJ

    They had an AP version, but I thought AP texts might be a bit over my son's head.  This text should be good at least as a "spine", and we can snag ad hoc resources online to supplement them, if needed.

    Offline MaterDominici

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    Re: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
    « Reply #4 on: July 14, 2024, 12:32:04 AM »
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  • I noticed that Khan Academy has a section on computer science that you might find helpful. https://www.khanacademy.org/computing
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    Offline Geremia

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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
    « Reply #6 on: November 29, 2024, 12:14:52 AM »
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  • https://www.codecademy.com/
    I've looked at that, and may adopt it later in the year.  Right now we are in the Hare book, and it is rich in computer terminology, covers everything very well, though it is a bit sloppily written, with a lot of split infinitives (a pet peeve of mine) and sometimes too-dense explanations of what should be simple subjects.  I use it as the "spine" of our computer class.

    Offline MaterDominici

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    Re: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
    « Reply #7 on: November 29, 2024, 01:19:15 AM »
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  • I've heard that this is the best online Intro to Computer Science course available. Access is free, but I'm not sure about grading. We've not used it before. I've only heard of it from a homeschooling high school FB group.

    https://www.edx.org/learn/computer-science/harvard-university-cs50-s-introduction-to-computer-science
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    Offline Geremia

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    Re: High school computer science curriculum for homeschoolers?
    « Reply #8 on: November 29, 2024, 02:03:19 PM »
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  • Right now we are in the Hare book
    Interesting. I've never heard of Hare.
    The book that first helped me understand programming was Kernighan & Ritchie, The C Programming Language. (I read it after learning the basics of Java.)
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