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Computer Science & Technology
Coding 1 (½ Credit)
The Intro to Computer Science class is required of all freshmen at Xavier . It is a semester-long class . The topics covered include: effective search strategies, securing domains and hosting, FTP programs, publishing to the Web, HTML, CSS, basic algorithms, and programming in JavaScript . By the end of the course, students will have their own web-based content published online . They will be familiar with how to code websites from scratch and they will know the basics of object-oriented programming using JavaScript .
AP Computer Science (1 Credit)
AP Computer Science is both a college-prep course for potential computer science majors and a foundation course for students planning to study in other technical fields such as engineering, physics and chemistry . The course emphasizes programming methodology, procedural abstraction, and indepth study of algorithms, data structures and data abstractions . This course is taught using the Java programming language along with program development environments . Instruction includes preparation for the AP Computer Science A Exam .
Advanced Computer Applications (1 Credit)
This course is an introduction to the basic tenets of programming and software development . Emphasis is placed on gaining handson experience in programming for web platforms, as well as App development in C# . In the 1st semester, students will explore the App development process as it pertains to creating mobile apps for online websites . Each student will create a permanent onlinerepository of web apps that will be easily accessible from mobile devices . This repository will act as a student’s online portfolio, and will be used to showcase their programming skills when applying to colleges and universities . The 2nd semester will focus on App development for mobile platforms iOS/Android) . Students will partner with local businesses, and develop an App for their chosen community partner . Microsoft’s Xamarin will be the development environment of choice, and Apps will be programmed making extensive use of the programming language C# .
Game Design with Unity (1 Credit)
Game Design is an elective for juniors and seniors . It will build on students’ prior experience with coding . Students will learn programming in the C# language and use the Unity platform to design 2D and 3D games for Web and Mobile devices . Concepts range from game creation for Virtual Reality to publishing on the Google Play store .
Moviemaking with Premiere Pro is a technology elective for juniors and seniors . Students will learn the basics of pre-production, production, and editing with Adobe Premiere Pro . The course will allow students to plan, shoot and edit their own short films and present them at the end of the year at the Xavier Film Festival . Robotics (1 Credit)
The Xavier Robotics curriculum combines skills in technology, math and science . Robotics allows students to think about solutions, try them out, and find out what works and what doesn’t . It allows students to share ideas, work in teams, and keep on improving their solution, continually trying new ideas . Students use their artistic and writing talents to bring their robots to life and to let others understand their robots . Students learn how to program their robots by learning the C programming language . Students will compete with one another in design and programming challenges . The year will culminate in an autonomous robotics tournament against other schools .
Architectural Design and 3D Modeling (1 Credit)
This course teaches students how to use industry standard CAD tools to design and model structures and objects . The Rhinoceros 3D software will be used to support the course . Students will learn the fundamentals of how to model existing structures in Rhino and how to redesign those structures for future needs . Students will also learn how to build prototypes by 3D printing and assembling their designs . Students will ultimately use a storyboard and present their designs to the larger group .
