Description
Computer Science Self-Paced Course Overview
How do computers store information, how does it travel across the internet, and how can a Python program solve a problem? In this full-year, self-paced computer science homeschool course, students explore how digital technology works and put what they learn into practice by writing and testing their own Python programs.
Students start with variables, logic, and algorithms before moving on to lists and functions. They also learn how computers represent data and images, how networks connect devices, and how computing affects privacy and everyday life. Recorded lessons, guided demonstrations, and coding exercises build skills step by step. No prior programming experience is required.
Explore more MyFunScience technology courses.
Computer Science Course at a Glance
- Teacher: Anna Pollard
- Format: Full-year, self-paced online course with instructor support
- Prerequisites: No prior programming experience required
- Programming language: Python
- Curriculum: 10 instructional units and a final exam unit
- High school credit: 1 credit
What Your Student Will Learn
- Introduction to Programming. Write and run basic Python programs in Thonny using variables, input, and output.
- Operators & Logic. Use arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators to evaluate expressions and make decisions.
- Algorithms & Control Structures. Plan solutions step by step, use conditionals and loops, and debug programs.
- Lists. Store, access, update, and process collections of data.
- Functions & Procedural Programming. Break problems into smaller steps and write reusable functions with parameters and return values.
- Global Impacts of Computing. Examine how computing affects communication, education, business, creativity, and society.
- Bits & Bytes. Explore how computers use binary to represent numbers, text, and other data.
- Data & Privacy. Consider data collection, digital footprints, security, and responsible use of personal information.
- Graphics & Images. Investigate how computers represent images and explore visual output through coding activities.
- The Internet & Networking. Learn how devices connect and how protocols help data travel across networks.
Final exam. Students review and demonstrate their understanding of the major computer science and Python concepts covered in the course.
Student Projects and Activities
Students may build interactive programs that accept input and display results, use loops to automate repeated steps, or organize data with lists and functions. Other activities may ask students to interpret binary data, explore digital images, evaluate a privacy scenario, or trace how information moves across a network. Assignment details are provided in each Schoology unit.
Self-Paced Learning and Instructor Support
Students work through the units in sequence on their own schedule. They can pause and replay recorded lessons and demonstrations, then practice what they learned through guided activities, assignments, and assessments in Schoology.
Anna Pollard provides feedback on submitted work where appropriate and offers individual Zoom assistance for questions, explanations, and debugging help.
Required Software
Students write and test their Python programs in Thonny, a free, beginner-friendly Python editor available for Windows and macOS.
Computer Science Frequently Asked Questions
Does my student need to know how to code?
No. The course starts with basic Python syntax and builds toward writing programs with loops, lists, and functions.
Does this course have a weekly live class?
Students follow recorded lessons at their own pace. Individual Zoom help is available when they need support.
Who is this course a good fit for?
It’s designed for homeschool students who want to learn some Python and understand how computers, data, and the internet work. It also provides a foundation for further computer science study.
