PBL Computer Science I is a CodeHS course that teaches the foundations of computer science and basic programming, with an emphasis on helping students develop logical thinking and problem solving skills. Once students complete the CodeHS Computer Science I course, they will have learned material equivalent to a semester college introductory course in Computer Science and be able to program in JavaScript.

This course utilizes a project-based learning (PBL) approach. The content is fully web-based, with students writing and running code in the browser. Lessons consist of video tutorials, short quizzes, example programs to explore, and written programming exercises, adding up to over 100 hours of hands-on programming practice in total.

Students write and run JavaScript programs in the browser using the CodeHS editor.

Software Requirements

· Students write HTML and CSS code in the browser using the CodeHS online editor.

Course Outline

Semester A

Unit 1: Project Introduction

· 1.1 Project Introduction

Unit 2: What is Computing?

· 2.1 Computer Organization

· 2.2 Software

· 2.3 Hardware

Unit 3: Benchmark One: Computing Innovations

· 3.1 Benchmark: Computing Innovations

Unit 4: Programming with Karel

· 4.1 Introduction to Programming with Karel

· 4.2 More Basic Karel

· 4.3 Karel Can't Turn Right

· 4.4 Functions in Karel

· 4.5 The Start Function

· 4.6 Top Down Design and Decomposition in Karel

· 4.7 Commenting Your Code

· 4.8 Super Karel

· 4.9 For Loops

· 4.10 If Statements

· 4.11 If/Else Statements

· 4.12 While Loops in Karel

· 4.13 Control Structures Example

· 4.14 More Karel Examples and Testing

· 4.15 How to Indent Your Code

· 4.16 Debugging Strategies

Unit 5: Karel Challenges

· 5.1 Collaborative Programming

· 5.2 Challenge Problems

Unit 6: Benchmark Two: Creating and Using an Algorithm

· 6.1 Benchmark: Creating and Using a Prototype

Unit 7: JavaScript and Graphics

· 7.1 Hello World

· 7.2 Variables

· 7.3 User Input

· 7.4 Basic Math in JavaScript

· 7.5 Using Graphics in JavaScript

· 7.6 Pixel Images

· 7.7 Using RGB to Create Colors

Unit 8: JavaScript Control Structures

· 8.1 Booleans

· 8.2 Logical Operators

· 8.3 Comparison Operators

· 8.4 If Statements

· 8.5 For Loops in JavaScript

· 8.6 General For Loops

· 8.7 For Loop Practice

· 8.8 Random Numbers

· 8.9 While Loops

· 8.10 Loop and A Half

Unit 9: Control Structures Challenges

· 9.1 Control Structures Challenges