So what exactly is computer science? Tuaght by brilliant teacher Mr. Dunigan-Atlee, computer science is the study of computers and how they interact with both human users as well as other computers and how they solve problems. The curriculum includes the following:
Fundamentals of Computer Systems
Computer Organization (how all the different systems within a computer work)
Networks
Controls
Abstract Data Structures
Resource Management (how memory or processing speed is managed)
Computational Thinking, Problem Solving, and Programming
There also exists the option to choose one of the following as a supplemental topic:
Object Oriented Programming
Modeling and Simulation
Databases
Web Science
There is a significant amount of programming in this course, in which students learn how to solve actual problems using code and computers. Programming is very important and interesting as it opens up many real-world applications and career opportunities for this class. The course culminates in a senior year project in which each student will create a large program to help a “real world client” solve a problem such as website design for optimal user-friendliness.
This course doesn’t require any particular math background, although math is a major component of computer science. If you are interested in computers, programming, or even challenging problems in general, then IB Computer Science is the course for you! If you would like further information, you can contact Mr. Dunigan-AtLee in person or via email.