Computer Science with Computational Thinking

Top Score at Advanced Placement AP CS A

Large majority of our Algorithms in C/C++ - Level I students scored 5(max score) at this exam with ease.

USACO Achievements:

Gold/Silver Achievements at the most prestigeous USACO exam in the USA .

ACSL Achievements:

View our students' Top Placements at the American Computer Science League Exam.

Best parts about our programs:

• Allow each student to advance at individual's pace.
• Align learning pace with a systematic roadmap. It facilitates learning paths interwined with advanced opportunities to fit each student's strength and interest.

Here is an email from Michelle Bryson, a student who attended our CS track from Gr.8 through 11, and has been admitted to the CMU Computer Science program - Class of 2024.

... I like it the most because: It was self paced and there was no pressure to be on the same level as someone else. I was never directly given the solution to a problem, but guided to figure things out. I felt working hard to learn is rewarded rather than just knowing the answer.

The instructors give a lot of 1:1 help and check in with me even if I did not raise a question

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You will find more detailed description from the syllabus including:

• Characteristics
• Requirement for Level Promotion
• What was deemed to be complete with an assignment with satisfactory level of understanding?
• How to do Well in this Track?
• Aligning with Storming Robots Roadmap

Storming Robots utilizes Robotics to animate problem solving effort starting from Grade 5.   However, we encourage students to study in this Algorithms in C/C++ Track starting from Grade 8.  

For new students who have earned Score 5 (highest score) from the Advanced Placement Computer Science: we may start you on Level I. AP CS focuses on the bare mechanic in programming, not computational thinking and anaylsis. Most AP CS A students find our Level I very challenging.

Contrary to widespread belief, computer science is often misconstrued as mere coding. Learning code solely for its sake doesn't inherently foster problem-solving abilities.

It's far more than that — it's a mindset, a journey that cultivates , decomposing and analyzing problems, designing solutions with proficiency and adaptability testing carefully, iterating ‐ skills essential in today’s AI-driven world.

Ability to think computationally is indispensable in doing scholarly research in any scientific or engineering discipline.  This sub-group aims to build this core foundation and sharpen students' problem solving skills in this digital world. CS+CT transforms to transferable problem-solving skills; no matter whether in engineering or liberal arts fields.

We begin with C/C++ to develop true computing literacy: students learn to reason about data, memory, and efficiency rather than rely on abstractions. That foundation produces adaptable problem-solvers who can transfer their skills to any language.

C/C++ programming allows high flexibility and the power to perform closer to the machine than other “modern” languages like Python. It is still often used in embedded systems or high-performance computing. It is considered to be lingua franca of programming.

Our program emphasizs the rigor of learning process and the process to develop proficiency and adaptability over shortcuts. We use C/C++ to anchor closer to the machine-level understanding - the skill exercise with various algorithms and optimization techniques; and inherently easily to adapt the mechanics of new modern language. The result is stronger, transferable problem-solving skills; no matter whether students pursue engineering or any other field.

Python is designed for professionals such as Data Scientist to program at ease so that they can focus on a specific subject matter, not learning computational thinking. It has plethora amount of built-in abstractions allowing students to prototype quickly. While Python is definitely a great tool for increasing productivity, it is not for building software with efficiency in system level which allows speed as priority.

Click here to see our students' achievement in USACO and ACSL.

Events that we participate:

• Robocupjunior - Robotics Simulation
• ZeroRobotics Satellites Programming Competition
• American Computer Science League and USACO - all online and students will have to do it independently

Robotics with Physical Robots

• Students participate as part of Storming Robots teams.

  Here show more details about various competitions and criterias.

We have an online discussion/compete group called C³ — Algorithmic Programming Discussion group thru Discord channel. Do note: there is no additional cost to join this, but it does have a prerequisiteto make this effiectice, and your enthusiam. Go HERE to learn more.

Prerequisite

For level B & I: Solid proficiency in Intro to Algebra is a MUST.
For level II+: Solid Algebra I and Middle School Geometry IS A MUST. (Proof of this level is required. )

Cost

They range from, $600s to $800s (9 weeks) per term depending on the levels.

Registration

Before you register, you are advised to review the   detailed Syllabus.  
 For New Students:  Please Click here to apply.  
 To Register:  Please Click here to register.  

Expectation in class:

• We strictly follow the “Honor Code” - see the syllabus pdf.
• Should read "How to get the BEST out of this program." from the syllabus pdf.
• Should allocate approx. 4 hours of programming homework per week.
• Must stay on task in class.
• Must be perseverant in taking on challenging problems and trying to follow thru direction to conduct cognitive thinking and analysis. (i.e. no spoon feeding method).
• Must be willing to review learning materials from the book at home.
• Satisfactory work is required in order to be deemed as “complete”. This means:
  • proper testing is required to ensure correctness
  • any error, especially those instructor points out as important, must be corrected.
  • we focus in computational thinking, so improvement must be made if code is found poorly written and inefficient.

 

1. Purchase the text book : C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition by K.N. King - ISBN-13: 978-0393979503, or 978-0393979503.
   Where to buy (just some suggestion):
   1. Amazon
   2. Online Buy/Sell facebook group.
   3. Email to our office to check whether we currently have a used book available for sale.
2. Download and install the IDE - Options (only one of the following):
   
   1. Microsoft Visual Studio Community Version - C/C++ , (NOT be confused with MS Visual Studio Code). During installation, select at least the "Desketop Development" for C++. Take a look of the snapshot here. or
   2. Alternative: Online C/C++ IDEHowever, the debugger is quite limited. As a begginner, it may be ok. As you go into level II+, the debugger capability from Visual Studio will help you a great deal.
   3. What if you use Apple OS: Please do note that we shall not be able to offer installation advise if you use Apple OS. If you do have to work on Apple OS, you may choose XCode. However, you will need to make sure you know how to set up the debugger.

Do note that online links do change from time to time. This is out of our control. Therefore, if the link above does not work, you will need to search them online.

Which IDE (on Windows OS) to choose:

• Microsoft Visual Studio Community Version.- Desktop Development with C++. This is very user-friendly, but footprint is huge - over 5G. However, it comes with an excellent debugger which is an extremely important learning tool.
• Online compiler and debugger for c/c++ is online IDE with C++ compiler and many other languages. Quick and easy way to compiler c++ program online.
• Eclipse .

  This is much less user-friendly. however, footprint takes up about only 4M.

Read this first before you choose Eclipse

Although Eclipse has far smaller footprint, it is more complicated to set up to use with the debugger. Just like most OpenSource software, you might have to manually modify some system configuration. Besides, I notice that new JDK may break within eclipse IDE; the last known workable version was JdK 1.8.x. If you are not familiar with simple windows operations such as changing environment variables, navigating thru the windows file system, DO NOT install Eclipse. You should use alternatives.

Install in the following order if you decide to install Eclipse:

• install 1.8.X JDK. (note: as in June, 2018, 1.9.X caused Eclipse to fail. )
• Install MinGW - Minimalist GNU for Window. Best is to get the installer kit.
• install Eclipse C/C++ IDE. The latest one we used was Oxygen.
• More details about using Eclipse as the IDE for C/C++

Level B to III :

• C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition by K.N. King - ISBN-13: 978-0393979503, or 978-0393979503.
• Online notes for Computer Science Track at Storming Robots site.

Level III, IV:

• Mastering Algorithms with C: ISBN-13: 978-1565924536, or ISBN-10: 1565924533
• Online notes for Computer Science Track at Storming Robots site.

Level V:

• Reference: C++ Primer Plus (Developer's Library) 6th Edition, by Stephen Prata.    ISBN-13: 9780321776402.
• (after completing the important topics covered in the Primer book) Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis in C++, (International Edition) - 4th Edition by Mark A. Weiss - ISBN-10: 0273769383, ISBN-13 : 978-0273769385.
• Online notes for Computer Science Track at Storming Robots site.