WFHS Teacher Attends AP Computer Science Summit at Facebook HQ

Nina Lurie, a mathematics and computer science teacher at William Floyd High School, was just one of 100 teachers selected from across the nation to attend the AP Computer Science Teacher Summit hosted by the College Board and Facebook at the social media giant’s Menlo Park, California, headquarters, this past summer.

The purpose of the summit was to connect AP Computer Science teachers from across the country and provide them with information to strengthen their instruction and recruitment efforts, as well as to share insights from the technology industry. Participants heard from university professors, computer science teachers, as well as staff from Facebook and the College Board.

“To be able to learn from and network with so many computer science professionals was an invaluable experience,” said Ms. Lurie. “The knowledge I’ve gained will be brought back into the classroom. I look forward to sharing my experiences with my students.”

About WFHS Computer Science

The Computer Science program at William Floyd High School began three years ago with a single course, Intro to Computer Science. It now consists of a three-course sequence – Intro to Computer Science, AP Computer Science A, and new this year, AP Computer Science Principles, which introduces students to the central ideas of computer science and develops the ideas and practices of computational thinking. The course also emphasizes the impact advances in computing have on people and society. Students will investigate computational innovations, examine the ethical implications of new technologies, and develop computational artifacts using the same creative processes that artists, writers, computer scientists and engineers use to bring ideas to life. This course also serves as a “bridge” course between Intro and Computer Science A, the latter of which is designed as a first-semester college equivalent with an emphasis on problem solving and algorithm development with object-oriented programming methodology. In AP Computer Science A, students will use the JAVA programming language and study data structures and abstraction.