What Abilities Are Necessary for Success in Computer Science? Gail A. C h m u r a Oakton High School Fairfax County Public Schools 2900 Sutton Road Vienna, Virginia 22181 chmuraga@oakton hs.fcps.kl 2.va.us Background I teach 135 ninth through twelfth grade students in the first year computer science course offered in Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia. The primary objectives of the course are for students to a) be able to understand and analyze data in a problem, b) determine the steps needed to solve a problem and c) find the solution by writing a computer program, using logical thinking and problem solving skills. The prerequisite for this course is completion of geometry. Some thought has been given to creating a fast-paced first year computer science class in addition to the course which is currently offered. The critical decision of determining which students to place in a fast-paced class presented a dilemma. One initial suggestion was to interview students that signed up to take computer science to determine their computer experience. Several administrators and counselors proposed that students who had the most experience with applications software or with computer hardware would be the best candidates for a fast-paced class.
/lp/association-for-computing-machinery/what-abilities-are-necessary-for-success-in-computer-science-xDoC0gV3WC