The Computer Department strives to help every student gain the proficiencies needed in an era of diverse and rapidly changing technologies. The flexibility of the program and its emphasis on computers as tools encourage students to explore the applications of computers to schoolwork while developing a foundation for continued computer education. Every member of the school community has access to a large state-of-the-art microcomputer network, including file servers, conference areas and Internet electronic mail.
The computer department also offers a range of introductory and advanced opportunities in Computer Science. These courses cover topics ranging from learning HTML, C++, Java and the Windows interface to data structures, algorithm analysis and various topics from discrete mathematics. Students opting to take a Computer Science elective are exempt from the Computer Mastery for that year. Introduction to Computer Science is required as a first course for students interested in pursuing a Computer Science sequence at Horace Mann.
Requirement:
Computer Mastery in grades nine through eleven
Senior Technology Seminar in Grade twelve
Required Courses
Computer Mastery
Grades nine through eleven
Meets once per week
Grade 9 (517) Grade 10 (518) Grade 11 (519)
Designed to help students develop the age- and grade-appropriate skills necessary to complete the annual Mastery Assessment, these up-to-date classes include a core of basic skills and flexible modules on word processing, electronic mail, spreadsheets, databases, desktop publishing, computer graphics, legal and ethical issues of computer use, and more. Successful completion of the Mastery Assessment may exempt a student from attending some portion of the course.
Senior Technology Seminars (520)
These seminars educate the graduating class about current and potential uses of technology. Four mandatory lectures are presented during the school year by outside speakers. The goal is to engage the seniors in considering how technology in its many forms may affect their lives as they move to college and beyond.
Elective Courses
These courses will satisfy the Computer Mastery requirement for the school year that the student has enrolled in.
Introduction to Computer Science (521)
Grades nine through twelve
Half-Credit
This is the entry level course for students interested in learning programming languages. The course topics will include an introduction to C++. Students will study the design and implementation of computer programs through projects. The emphasis is on studying and comparing algorithms, developing a thorough knowledge of the C++ programming language, reading problem descriptions thoroughly and finding relationships between programming problems. To build a foundation for future Computer Science electives, students will study debugging strategies, and how to read and assess compiler and linker errors. Students should expect to present at least one paper about a topic in Computer Science using PowerPoint, HTML or some other computer application.
Topics in Computer Science I (527)
Prerequisite: Introduction to Computer Science or departmental approval
Half-Credit
This course is an intermediate level course for students interested in continuing their study of Computer Science. This course will review the basics of C++ with a greater emphasis on using classes such as strings, vectors and matrices to implement larger programming projects. Students will learn about object-oriented design and will implement their own classes.
Topics in Computer Science II (528)
Prerequisite: Topics in Computer Science I, AP Computer Science, or departmental approval
Half-Credit
This course will introduce students to the Java programming language. After an introduction to Java syntax and a Java development environment, students will continue their study of data structures and object-oriented design begun in the AP course or in Topics in Computer Science I. Students may elect to take this course after either Topics in Computer Science I or AP Computer Science. Because the AP exam uses the C++ programming language, the department recommends that students interested in taking the AP course consider taking the AP course after Computer Science I and this course the following year.
Advanced Placement Computer Science (531)
Prerequisites: Topics in Computer Science I and departmental approval
Full-Credit
The goals of the AP course in computer science are comparable to those in the introductory
sequence of courses for computer science majors offered in college and university computer
science departments. The Horace Mann AP computer science course covers the AB syllabus which contains content consistent with most college and university CS1 and CS2 courses. The course topics include formal and in-depth study of algorithms and data structures. The course is taught using the C++ programming language. Students are expected to take the AP exam at the end of the year. The department recommends that students take this course after completing Computer Science I.
Web Design I (529)
Grades eleven and twelve ONLY
Half-Credit
Students of web design will partake in an exploration of the philosophical and practical aspects of creating web content. Students will study elements of design with an eye to target audiences, appropriate content delivery, and limitations of onscreen display. Extensive knowledge of computers is NOT necessary.
We will use a wide variety of web site creation tools, including, but not limited to Dreamweaver, GoLive, PageMill, Netscape Composer, Flash,and Fireworks. These are industry standard tools. Students will begin by learning HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and incorporating their use of Authoring Tools with their understanding of HTML.
Web Design II (530)
Half-Credit
Prerequisite: WD I
This course is a continuation of WD I.
Students who wish to continue their studies of the WWW in a more individual manner may take Web Design II. Each student will work toward becoming expert at using one or more of our web design tools. Whether the students’ interests be artistic, technical or both, the tools used to build the web will be available and updated so that each student is using the cutting edge tool of choice. Students should choose one piece of software -- Dreamweaver, Flash, Java, Photoshop, GoLive, etc. -- and concentrate on mastering it. The administrative, technical and philosophical aspects of maintaining a web site will be discussed. Field trips will be included. Maintenance of HM’s website will be a portion of the hands-on part of this class. In addition, students will be encouraged to re-design other sites and portions of our site. Continued individual growth is one of the goals of the class.