Course Description

Advanced Topics for Computer Science Teachers covers topics in computer science that are more advanced than those required to teach Exploring Computer Science and Computer Science Principles, but that enable teachers of these courses to feel confident that they know more than most of their students and can answer student questions that might arise in the classroom. In addition to learning basic programming in Python, teachers in the course will learn basic data structures and algorithms (including tradeoffs between data representation and algorithm performance), and software design (including the process of planning, engineering and implementing a software system to solve larger-scale problems). The course emphasizes the breadth, coherence, and approachability of Computer Science as a field of intellectual inquiry. In addition to several homework assignments, each student will complete two projects, one centered on computer programming and software design, and one on developing pedagogical materials for high school computer science.

Prerequisites — Classes or Knowledge Required Before Taking This Course

ATCS is being offered as part of UCI’s Computer Science Teacher Certificate Program, which is currently funded by the National Science Federation. This course is the final in a sequence of four courses in the program. Teachers are expected to have successfully completed three courses

1. Teaching Exploring Computer Science (4 units)
2. Teaching Computer Science Principles (5 units)
3. Methods for Teaching CS (2 units)

All teacher-participants (aka students) are admitted through the certificate program.

Course Syllabus

EDUC X300.46 Advanced Topics for CS Teachers