CHS introducing Honors Computer Science III course as gateway between high school and college courses
Coppell High School Computer Science III teacher Michael Finnegan helps senior Ashley Quian during third period on Oct. 5. Computer Science III is a new addition to the CHS course selection, being offered for the first time in the 2022-23 school year.
October 20, 2022
Starting this year, Coppell High School has added a new computer science course: Honors Computer Science III. The class was added to expand students’ knowledge and application of the programming language Java to prepare them for college level computer science courses.
After many years of vouching for a higher leveled computer science course, CHS Computer Science teacher Michael Finnegan finally established Honors Computer Science 3 this school year.
Finnegan guides students through his self-made curriculum. The curriculum teaches students how to create their own data structures and build solutions to problem solve.
In previous years, CHS offered only Computer Science I, Computer Science II, AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A. Before Computer Science III was introduced, many students stopped learning about computers prior to their senior year.
“I’m pretty happy about the class because otherwise we would have exhausted the computer science classes that they offer at the high school,” senior Tavishka Arora said.
The course acts as a gateway between high school and college computer science courses. Now, students can refresh their knowledge of Java and build their problem solving skills before college begins.
(Sahasra Chakilam)
The class, however, would not be the same without Finnegan as the teacher.
“He really cares about his students’ path with computer science and their learning experience more than he cares about grades, which is a good quality for a teacher to have,” senior Sanjith Tamballa said.
As Computer Science II or AP Computer Science A are required prerequisites to take this class, students are likely to have Finnegan for multiple years.
“I’m very glad that Mr. Finnegan is the teacher for this class because then by taking it you are guaranteed another year with him,” Arora said. “He is very knowledgeable in the field and knows exactly what he’s doing.”
AP Computer Science A or Computer Science II focus on teaching Java as a language, whereas Honors Computer Science III teaches students to apply prior Java knowledge to solve problem sets.
Finnegan recommends taking AP Computer Science A rather than Computer Science II..
“Computer Science III is an honors-level class and Computer Science II is not so,” Finnegan said. “Going from AP to Honors is easier because the content is more advanced.”
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