By ROBERT WALKER – News Writer
Clarke Central High School has received a grant from the College Board to add two additional Advanced Placement courses.
The College Board, the organization responsible for the SAT and Advanced Placement tests, awarded a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grant to add two classes to Clarke Central High School’s Program of Study next semester.
Senior Max Germain participates in a lab during his Advanced Placement physics class. “It’s a chellenging class and we do a lot of challengin labs — it keeps me on my toes,” Germain said. Photo by Porter McLeod
“(CCHS) was given the AP STEM grant because of the (high) amount of female and minority students enrolled in AP courses,” Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said.
According to the College Board’s AP Computer Science course description, the focus of the course is “the design and implementation of computer programs to solve problems involve skills that are fundamental to the study of computer science, a large part of the course is built around the development of computer programs that correctly solve a given problem.”
Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward, who will be teaching the course next year, says AP Computer Science is an algorithm heavy course.
“It is going to be a computer class that will be focused on programming, how to run algorithms and also running Java applets and things of that nature,” Ward said.
An algorithm is defined as a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations by a computer.
“Algorithms are used everywhere, and Dr. Ward is putting together a flyer that will attract interest because of its practical uses, such as by defensive coordinators in football,” Associate Principal Mary Thielman said.
Sophomore Jordan Bonner, who plays football, is intrigued by the idea of a class to analyze football film.
“We learn a little already from watching the coaches, but if you were interested in it and wanted to learn how to do it, yeah I think it would be good,” Bonner said.
After AP Computer Science is added, its curriculum will continue to transition, according to Ward.
“This will be a very dynamic class, which is good as opposed to a math AP, which does not change much. Computers can always change and evolve,” Ward said.
While offered in the past, AP Physics will return in the fall under the direction of science department teacher Scott Swain. The course is undergoing a change to combine both Physics B and C.
“Rather than teaching just physics B, a trigonomics-based course, they are going to restructure it to include physics A as well, the calculus-based course,” Thielman said.
Some students, such as junior Edgar Rebollar-Suarez, are interested in taking a combined AP Physics course.
“Physics is the fundamental science to all science and is very interesting to figure out how other stuff works due to physics, and I would be really interested to take it,” Suarez said.
Although there are no prerequisites to enroll in the new course offerings, Thielman offers a word of caution to would-be enrollees.
“Although prerequisites were eliminated, my recommendation would to be to have a background in science and math for both courses, also an introductory course for physics,” Thielman said.
More from Robert Walker
Photos by Porter McLeod
