Category: Computer Science

Daily Reminders

  • Use your organizer keep track of tasks and deadlines. My own preference is Google Keep but many students also seem to like Google Tasks, which is built into Gmail.
  • Check the daybook (or Classroom, whichever is being used in class) and your email at the beginning of every class.
  • Use your organizer to record your tasks and deadlines. Get in the habit of working from your organizer. If you are starting a new assignment, put it on your organizer first.
  • If you’ve received a mark update, check it for any errors or outstanding items. If you have any concerns, talk to me immediately or make a note of it on your to-do list.
  • Is your mark below 60%? If it is, expect me to talk to you about spending some lunch hours in the class to catch up.
  • If one of your class assignments is a ePortfolio (all classes except ICS), ask yourself if there is anything you can add to it today. Then do so!
  • At the end of every period, please push your chair in, throw out (or recycle) your garbage, and turn off your computer if it is the last period of the day.

Student Support

I can always be contacted via email (please see email protocol) or through my “contact me” form or through the Remind service app (preferred).

Remember that I want you to pass, so please take advantage of the communication tools available to you to reach out to me any time you have a question.

Tools

Throughout the course we will be using various tools to help our learning:
  • Portable Apps
    • Chrome
    • Notepad++
  • Lastpass
  • Diigo (social bookmarking)
  • Google Drive
  • Google Takeout
  • Google Sites (the NEW Google Sites)
  • Google Keep
  • Gmail
  • Twitter
  • Dropbox

ICS4U Outline

This course enables students to further develop knowledge and skills in computer science. Students will use modular design principles to create complex and fully documented programs, according to industry standards. Student teams will manage a large software development project, from planning through to project review. Students will also analyse algorithms for effectiveness. They will investigate ethical issues in computing and further explore environmental issues, emerging technologies, areas of research in computer science, and careers in the field.

This is not a comprehensive outline, and it should always be considered a work in progress…

Google20 Days

“Google20” days are loosely modeled after Google’s philosophy of allowing their programmers and engineers to use one day per week to work on a “pet project” not related to their job. It is a hugely successful program that has resulted in many products at Google (like Gmail!).

While brainstorming how this might look in our class, we have come up with our own philosophy of how our “Google20” days should work:

  • You must have a mark of at least 70%.
  • You must work on something “productive”, i.e. no games, social media (chat, Twitter, Facebook) , etc.:
    • You may work on classwork for another class (math homework, anyone?!!).
    • You may work on personal projects such as hobbies, drawing, artwork, photography, independent research, programming, etc.
    • You may even continue working on projects related to this class!

Ultimately, the goal of our Google20 days is for you to be productive at something that moves your life forward in a positive way, doing something that you want to do.

At the beginning of each of these days we will ask you to fill in this form so you know what your plan is and eventually for me to measure how successful this program is.

[teacher link]

ICS3C Outline

This course introduces students to computer programming concepts and practices. Students will write and test computer programs, using various problem-solving strategies. They will learn the fundamentals of program design and apply a software development life-cycle model to a software development project. Students will also learn about computer environments and systems, and explore environmental issues related to computers, safe computing practices, emerging technologies, and postsecondary opportunities in computer-related fields.

This is not a comprehensive outline, and it should always be considered a work in progress…

ICS3U Outline

This course introduces students to computer science. Students will design software independently and as part of a team, using industry-standard programming tools and applying the software development life-cycle model. They will also write and use subprograms within computer programs. Students will develop creative solutions for various types of problems as their understanding of the computing environment grows. They will also explore environmental and ergonomic issues, emerging research in computer science, and global career trends in computer-related fields.

This is not a comprehensive outline, and it should always be considered a work in progress…