PDE - College Board Key Terms (Lesson)

College Board Key Terms to know for the Performance Task

Performance Task is a word used by College Board to identify the Create Task that will be uploaded to them for the Portfolio information for the AP Exam.  You are given time in the GaVS course to do the identified Final Project (GaVS) and Create Task (College Board) as being one and the same.

Task verbs are commonly used in the performance task questions / statements to have you write or do something that will contribute to an AP reader or your teacher reader, understanding your work.  At no time should you ever assume that the reader will interpret your meaning.  You must state the obvious information.  If not stated or provided you will lose points.

Task verbs with definitions as provided by the College Board are listed below highlighted in blue.  Explanations that we have used for these words in the course are listed below each verb.


Capture: Select a portion of program code that addresses the prompt(s).

GaVS has used the words snip the code.


Demonstrate: Provide sufficient evidence for an answer or point being made.

GaVS has used the word explain for document in writing using the stem (key) words of the question, including details of why, how, what, where, etc.


Describe: Provide the relevant features or characteristics of what the program code represents or is being used to accomplish.

GaVS has used the word "trace" for writing the key elements in the code, especially the method written by you with parameters and the array/list. 

Use of the stem (key) words in the question or description is imperative to guide the reader to know what you are writing of.  You know what is in your mind, the reader does not, and cannot assume anything.  If you do not state the obvious it is not said.

    1. For the method this would include:
      •  what the overall method (procedure or function) will accomplish
      •  the contents of the parameter(s)
      •  how the decision / selection condition of truth works to enter the true and false paths as well as what each paths does
      •  how the iteration works to include how / why the iteration is entered, what the code does in the iteration, when the iteration stops, and if asked, how the iteration could become an infinite loop (including, if needed, changes that would need to be made).
    2.  For the array/list this would include:
      • a detailed explanation of how information is stored in the array/list including the data type (whole number, object, etc.).
      • a detailed explanation of how the array/list is used to create something new using all of the elements of the array/list in an iteration (loop).


Design: Develop a plan for how to accomplish the program specification or requirements.

GaVS has used the words design, flowchart, programming cycle (problem analysis, design, code, test, reflect) until working.

 

Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, situation, or outcome occurs, listing detailed steps of the algorithm or using evidence and/or reasoning.

GaVS has used the word explain with "D", meaning to write, for document writing using the stem (key) words of the question, including details of why, how, what, where, etc.


Identify: Provide a name for the specific topic, without elaboration or explanation.

GaVS has used the words "name", "use the name of",  name of the method (procedure or function), or the name of the array/list.


Implement/Write: Recognize and use proper syntax to execute the program design.

GaVS has used the words "write the code" or "create".   Examples:  create / implement / code the story depicted in the storyboard, create a flowchart, or write a specific portion of code such as a count or while loop, decision/selection statement to accomplish a task, a do Together block, or a method.

Above words and definitions highlighted in blue taken from College Board AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description, p. 170, Fall 2023 as of 10/9/23