AP Computer Science A (Sem 2)

Course Description:

This course is the second semester of a two-semester sequence and is aligned to the Advanced Placement curriculum for Computer Science A. AP Computer Science is a college level computer course covering the applications of computing within the context of programming methodology, algorithms, and data structures. The Java computer language which is a free download for either a Macintosh or a Windows platform. This course requires a proctored mid-term and final exam. Course does not include the AP Exam; students can contact their school’s AP Coordinator or the College Board to sign up to take the Exam. In order to maintain the integrity of AP standards, it is highly advisable that local school districts proctor their online student AP course midterm and final exams.

Course Details:

Course Title (District): AP Computer Science A (Sem 2)
Course Title (NCES SCED) : AP Computer Science A
Course Provider : Michigan Virtual
Content Provided By : Florida Virtual School
Online Instructor Provided By : Michigan Virtual
Standards Addressed : National Collegiate Athletic Association, CollegeBoard
Alignment Document : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1u76XJIG7g71BIrZvMdQAilDReSbDgE72
Academic Terms : Semester
NCES SCED Code :
Subject Area : Computer and Information Sciences
Course Identifier : AP Computer Science A
Course Level : High School (Secondary)
Available Credit : 0.5
Sequence : 2 of 2

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : https://slp.michiganvirtual.org/
Email : [email protected]
Phone : (888) 889-2840

Students and Parents: It is important to work closely with your local school counselor or registrar to follow the school's enrollment procedures. By clicking the "Start Registration Request" button below, you will be able to notify the school of your interest in registering for the online course. However, it is the responsibility of the district or school to review the registration request and approve or deny the request. Please make a note to follow up with your school after submitting a registration request.

Start Registration Request

Additional Course Information:

Additional Cost: $0.0

Additional Cost Description:

Required Software not included in the cost of the course.

IMACS software includes students' eTextbook and labs for the eIMACS online edition of Maria Litvin and Gary Litvin, Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java, 6th edition, Andover, MA: Skylight Publishing, 2014, at a cost of $24.95, NON-REFUNDABLE. Your instructor will provide you with a unique link for your e-text software access and purchase information. By clicking on this link, students will be taken to a registration page where they will be asked to pay $24.95 using either Mastercard or Visa. There are NO REFUNDS which means students should be certain about joining your class prior to paying our fee. This registration fee will give students access to our curriculum for 1 year from the date they enroll and they will be placed into your eIMACS class. Note: Sem 2 students who already purchased access to the eText in Sem 1 do not need to make any additional purchases.

Michigan Virtual will purchase an additional IMACS software module aimed at studying for the College Board’s AP exam -- this will be added to previous modules in the Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java online eTextbook – for all semester 2 students still enrolled after the final drop date at no additional cost to students or enrolling schools.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Apply and implement commonly-used algorithms and data structures.
  • Develop and select appropriate algorithms and data structures to solve problems.
  • Identify the major hardware and software components of a computer system.

iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses

Academic Content Standards and Assessments Rating Comments
The goals and objectives clearly state what the participants will know or be able to do at the end of the course. The goals and objectives are measurable in multiple ways. Fully Met
The course content and assignments are aligned with the state’s content standards, Common Core curriculum, or other accepted content standards set for Advanced Placement® courses, technology, computer science, or other courses whose content is not included in the state standards. Fully Met
The course content and assignments are of sufficient rigor, depth and breadth to teach the standards being addressed. Fully Met
Information literacy and communication skills are incorporated and taught as an integral part of the curriculum. Fully Met
Multiple learning resources and materials to increase student success are available to students before the course begins. Fully Met
Course Overview and Introduction Rating Comments
Clear, complete course overview and syllabus are included in the course. Fully Met
Course requirements are consistent with course goals, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Fully Met
Information is provided to students, parents and mentors on how to communicate with the online instructor and course provider. Fully Met
Legal and Acceptable Use Policies Rating Comments
The course reflects multi-cultural education, and the content is accurate, current and free of bias or advertising. Fully Met
Expectations for academic integrity, use of copyrighted materials, plagiarism and netiquette (Internet etiquette) regarding lesson activities, discussions, and e-mail communications are clearly stated. Fully Met MVS Acceptable Use Policy
Privacy policies are clearly stated. Fully Met MVS Policy
Instructor Resources Rating Comments
Online instructor resources and notes are included. Fully Met
Assessment and assignment answers and explanations are included. Fully Met
Accessing Course Effectiveness Rating Comments
The course provider uses multiple ways of assessing course effectiveness. Fully Met
The course is evaluated using a continuous improvement cycle for effectiveness and the findings used as a basis for improvement. Fully Met
Course Updates Rating Comments
The course is updated periodically to ensure that the content is current. Fully Met
Certification Rating Comments
Course instructors, whether faceto-face or virtual, are certificated and “highly qualified.” The online course teacher possesses a teaching credential from a state-licensing agency and is “highly qualified” as defined under ESEA. Fully Met
Instructor and Student Support Rating Comments
Professional development about the online course delivery system is offered by the provider to assure effective use of the courseware and various instructional media available. Fully Met
The course provider offers technical support and course management assistance to students, the course instructor, and the school coordinator. Fully Met
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, have been provided professional development in the behavioral, social, and when necessary, emotional, aspects of the learning environment. Fully Met
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, receive instructor professional development, which includes the support and use of a variety of communication modes to stimulate student engagement online. Fully Met
The provider assures that course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, are provided support, as needed, to ensure their effectiveness and success in meeting the needs of online students. Fully Met
Students are offered an orientation for taking an online course before starting the coursework. Fully Met
Instructional and Audience Analysis Rating Comments
Course design reflects a clear understanding of all students’ needs and incorporates varied ways to learn and master the curriculum. Fully Met
Course, Unit and Lesson Design Rating Comments
The course is organized by units and lessons that fall into a logical sequence. Each unit and lesson includes an overview describing objectives, activities, assignments, assessments, and resources to provide multiple learning opportunities for students to master the content. Fully Met
Instructional Strategies and Activities Rating Comments
The course instruction includes activities that engage students in active learning. Fully Met
The course and course instructor provide students with multiple learning paths, based on student needs that engage students in a variety of ways. Fully Met
The course provides opportunities for students to engage in higher-order thinking, critical reasoning activities and thinking in increasingly complex ways. Fully Met
The course provides options for the instructor to adapt learning activities to accommodate students’ needs. Fully Met While the course content is not modifiable, assignments and assessments can be modified to meet learners' diverse needs.
Readability levels, written language assignments and mathematical requirements are appropriate for the course content and grade-level expectations. Fully Met
Communication and Interaction Rating Comments
The course design provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student interaction, including opportunities for timely and frequent feedback about student progress. Fully Met The instructor can create additional opportunities in the discussion board and the messaging systerm.
The course design includes explicit communication/activities (both before and during the first week of the course) that confirms whether students are engaged and are progressing through the course. The instructor will follow program guidelines to address non-responsive students. Fully Met
The course provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student and student-student interaction to foster mastery and application of the material. Fully Met
Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Students have access to resources that enrich the course content. Fully Met
Evaluation Strategies Rating Comments
Student evaluation strategies are consistent with course goals and objectives, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Fully Met
The course structure includes adequate and appropriate methods and procedures to assess students’ mastery of content. Fully Met
Feedback Rating Comments
Ongoing, varied, and frequent assessments are conducted throughout the course to inform instruction. Fully Met
Assessment strategies and tools make the student continuously aware of his/her progress in class and mastery of the content. Fully Met
Assessment Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Assessment materials provide the instructor with the flexibility to assess students in a variety of ways. Fully Met
Grading rubrics are provided to the instructor and may be shared with students. Fully Met
The grading policy and practices are easy to understand. Fully Met
Course Architecture Rating Comments
The course architecture permits the online instructor to add content, activities and assessments to extend learning opportunities. Fully Met While the course content is not modifiable, MVS instructors can modify assignments and assessments to meet student needs. The instructors direct students to supplemental resources when appropriate.
The course accommodates multiple school calendars; e.g., block, 4X4 and traditional schedules. Fully Met
User Interface Rating Comments
Clear and consistent navigation is present throughout the course. Fully Met
Rich media are provided in multiple formats for ease of use and access in order to address diverse student needs. Fully Met
Technology Requirements and Interoperability Rating Comments
All technology requirements (including hardware, browser, software, etc...) are specified. Fully Met
Prerequisite skills in the use of technology are identified. Fully Met
The course uses content-specific tools and software appropriately. Fully Met
The course is designed to meet internationally recognized interoperability standards. Fully Met MVS Policy
Copyright and licensing status, including permission to share where applicable, is clearly stated and easily found. Fully Met MVS Policy
Accessibility Rating Comments
Course materials and activities are designed to provide appropriate access to all students. The course, developed with universal design principles in mind, conforms to the U.S. Section 504 and Section 508 provisions for electronic and information technology as well as the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility guidelines (WCAg 2.0). Fully Met MVS Policy
Data Security Rating Comments
Student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Fully Met

Review Conducted By: Michigan Virtual
Date of Review: 03/11/2014

Module 11- Computing in Context

Module 12- Recursion

Module 13- Inheritance and Polymorphism

Module 14- Classes Revisited

Module 15- Abstractions and Interfaces

Module 16- Algorithms

Module 17- Sorting

Module 18- Searching

Module 19- Program Analysis

Module 20- AP Exam Review

Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends Random Draw Date Enrollment Drop Date Course Starts Course Ends # of Seats Course Fee Potential Additional Costs
Semester 03/29/2024 02/07/2025 07/01/2024 01/31/2025 01/17/2025 06/06/2025 100 $440 $0
Drop Policy Completion Policy Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends
Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. Students may access their course from their enrollment start date to their enrollment end date. A completion is a 60% final score or higher. Semester 03/29/2024 02/07/2025
Students can use chat, email or private message system within the course to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance.
School Year Enrollment Count Pass Count Completion Rate Notes
22-23 120 115 95.83%
21-22 93 90 96.77%
19-20 115 103 89.57%
18-19 130 122 93.85%
17-18 117 104 88.89% Enrollment data includes all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the 2017-18 school year.
16-17 104 97 93.27% Enrollment data include all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the 2016-17 school year.
15-16 93 84 90.32% None
14-15 68 61 89.71% Enrollment data includes all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the 2014-15 school year.
13-14 58 49 84.48% Enrollment data include all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the Spring and Summer 2013-14 school year.

Required purchase of eIMACS software including eTextbook (instructions will be provided by your instructor) as well as the required download of the latest version of Java SE Development Kit 8 from Oracle and the installation of the Blue J IDE on devices running either Windows 10 (x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit)) OS or Mac OS X (10.8.3+ or 10.9 and above); detailed instructions will be provided in the first module of the course with additional instructions to be provided by the instructor.

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/