Unlocking the Secrets to AP CSA Success: A Teacher’s Perspective

Creating a Collaborative Classroom Culture

The 2024 Virtual Teacher Conference was filled with excellent sessions from experts on the CodeHS team and tenured educators from across the country who shared insights on topics like the upcoming AP CSA exam. Joseph Keays, a computer science teacher in Agoura Hills, CA, described his experience creating a collaborative classroom culture while teaching AP courses.

Effective teaching of AP Computer Science A goes far beyond simply delivering content. It requires cultivating a dynamic, collaborative classroom culture that empowers students to thrive. Joseph Keays, a seasoned computer science and math teacher with 26 years of experience, has mastered this art.

At the heart of Keays’ approach is a physical classroom setup designed for teamwork and open communication. Rather than traditional rows of desks, his classroom features tables arranged in pairs, allowing students to work closely with a new partner each day. This intentional seating arrangement encourages students to engage in constant dialogue, share their knowledge, and support one another’s learning.

Keays emphasizes the importance of treating his AP CSA class like a team, with the shared goal of achieving a high score on the AP exam. He sets high standards for his students, aiming for the entire class to earn a 5 out of 5 on the exam. This collective mindset cultivates a culture of mutual support, where students are motivated to help each other succeed.

To facilitate this collaborative environment, Keays has developed various strategies to promote active communication and problem-solving. Each day, students are paired with a different partner, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones and learn from diverse perspectives. Keays actively models and reinforces effective communication skills, guiding students on how to ask for help, offer assistance, and engage in productive discussions.

The classroom buzz is a testament to the engaged learning taking place. Keays listens intently for the telltale “aha!” moments, where students exclaim their understanding of a concept. He celebrates these epiphanies, recognizing that learning is not a silent, individual process, but a dynamic, shared experience.

Diversifying Assessments for Scaffolded Learning

In Keays’ classroom, assessment is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, he employs a diverse array of assessment strategies to support students’ skill development and confidence-building.

Throughout the last two to three days of each unit, Keays implements a carefully structured sequence of assessments. These assessments begin with low-stakes, partner-based activities, where students are encouraged to collaborate, discuss, and work through challenges together. As the assessments progress, they become more individualized and challenging, gradually building students’ independent problem-solving abilities.

Keays’ assessment strategy is intentionally designed to avoid predictable patterns. Students never know whether an assessment will be graded, count towards their final grade, or provide feedback. This unpredictability keeps students on their toes, motivating them to consistently give their best effort.

In addition to partner-based and individual assessments, Keays incorporates a variety of assessment formats, including multiple-choice, free-response questions (FRQs), and online/paper-based options. He strategically aligns the timing and difficulty of these assessments with the AP exam’s structure, ensuring students are well-prepared for the high-stakes test.

Keays also recognizes the importance of scaffolding and support, especially when it comes to FRQs. He dedicates significant class time to guiding students through the process of understanding, analyzing, and responding to FRQs, gradually building their confidence and independence.

Leveraging the Power of CodeHS

While Keays’ classroom culture and assessment strategies are crucial to his students’ success, he also leverages the resources and features on the CodeHS platform to enhance the learning experience.

The CodeHS website serves as the primary instructional platform, with approximately 95% of the course content delivered through its comprehensive curriculum. Keays values the diversity of resources available, including videos, interactive simulations, and coding challenges, which he strategically integrates into his lessons.

One feature Keays particularly appreciates is the CodeHS Sandbox, which allows students to explore and experiment with coding concepts in a hands-on, interactive environment. He also utilizes the platform’s practice problems and progress tracking tools to monitor student understanding and provide targeted support.

Keays takes advantage of the CodeHS course settings, carefully adjusting features like copy-paste prevention to encourage independent work and discourage shortcuts. By strategically enabling and disabling these settings, he creates an environment that fosters genuine learning and problem-solving skills.

Joseph Keays’ approach to teaching AP Computer Science A exemplifies the power of cultivating a collaborative classroom culture and diversifying assessments. By prioritizing teamwork, scaffolding, and a growth mindset, he empowers his students to achieve remarkable success on the AP exam, consistently outperforming the national average.

Interested in watching the full video version of this webinar? Visit our YouTube channel to see the full list of 2024 Virtual Teacher Conference recordings.