Question about AP computer science

[sciencewhiz]

I have a chance to work with some high school students for designing simple robotics control systems. Can some of you give me an idea what is covered in AP comp sci?

I specifically need to know what language is taught and what the typical class would have learned by January. Also, is the class very specific to the language taught, or does it teach general programming techniques that are applicable to all programming languages.

The programming would be done in PBasic (a basic dialect) on Parallax stamp2SX processors.

 

[Impact55]

I'm in AP Computer Science right now, and I'd have to say so far it's mainly only focused on C++, haven't got to January yet . Hope I helped!

 

[SickBoy5000]

In high school, my advanced class was a Visual Basic Database Programming course. We learned about how to link databases made in Microsoft Access to Visual Basic. It was pretty cool. We could manipulate Access db's in vb. In other words, we could add fields and stuff, take them away, make reports, and various other things. I enjoyed it.

 

[sciencewhiz]

I don't know about an average AP computer science student, but it is fairly easy for me to switch between high-level languages.

What I am afraid of is that AP comp sci spends to much time on things like classes that is just wasted time for what I want to do. Most important is able to write bullet-proof algorithms with a strong basis in math.

Impact,

Can you give me some idea of the topics you have covered so far?

 

[pen^2]

Compsci A is supposed to cover basics of C++, whereas the AB course touches a bit on recursion, dynamic data type and linked lists, stacks and ques, searches and sorts and trees... hope this helps