Study Plan

with notes

• 6 min read

Study Plan

  1. Review Team Teach pages, create notes for them and a plan for review to put into flashcards (notes are below will organize better)

  2. Review Collegeboard Videos and practice key topics with flashcards

  3. CPT <- Review the student Handbook

🧠 Computing Innovations — Study Plan & Notes (AP CSP 2025)

📅 Week 1: Core Concepts & Effects

✅ Day 1: Overview of Computing Innovations

  • Computing innovations = technology created by humans that impacts the world.
  • Can be both:
    • Beneficial (helpful, productive, life-improving)
    • Harmful (unintended consequences, risk, loss)

📝 Notes:

  • Innovations apply to medicine, business, art, transportation, etc.
  • Responsible computing = being aware of consequences and designing ethically.

✅ Day 2: Beneficial Effects of Computing

1. 💉 Medical Advancements

  • Robotic surgery, AI diagnostics
  • Data-driven treatments

2. 🏢 Business Efficiency

  • Data analytics → smarter decisions
  • Automation → saves time + reduces errors

3. 🎨 Artistic Expansion

  • Digital tools enable creativity (Procreate, music software)
  • Online platforms help artists share work globally

4. 🚁 Drones

  • Delivery of goods (Amazon Prime Air)
  • Aerial views for mapping and filming

“Technology enhances speed, reach, and precision in many industries.”

✅ Day 3: Harmful Effects of Computing

1. 🧑‍💻 Cyberbullying

  • Online anonymity → toxic behavior
  • Mental health effects (anxiety, depression)

2. 🕵️‍♂️ Privacy Loss

  • Devices collect user data
  • Surveillance + exploitation of data

3. 📉 Technology Dependence

  • Over-reliance on AI = lower critical thinking
  • Students using AI without understanding

4. ⚙️ Job Displacement

  • Automation replaces low-skill jobs
  • Worsens economic inequality

5. 🚨 Drones

  • Privacy violations (recording without permission)
  • Physical risk in restricted airspace

“Harmful effects often result from lack of oversight, poor design, or misuse.”

📅 Week 2: Real-World Cases & Applications

✅ Day 4: Self-Driving Cars (AI Case Study)

🔵 Benefits:

  • Fewer accidents (no distracted driving)
  • Smooth traffic flow (cars communicate)
  • Mobility for disabled or elderly
  • Lower emissions via smarter driving

🔴 Harms:

  • Replaces jobs (truck drivers, taxi drivers)
  • Hacking risk (vehicle control)
  • Hard legal questions (who’s responsible?)
  • Infrastructure costs to upgrade roads

“Even good technology can harm if society doesn’t prepare for its effects.”

✅ Day 5: Dopamine Loops & Tech Addiction

  • Social platforms = designed to give dopamine rewards
  • Likes, swipes, and notifications → addictive behavior

Consequences:

  • Sleep loss
  • Lower focus
  • Anxiety & depression
  • Social isolation

“Design matters: addictive systems can harm mental health.”

📅 Week 3: Review & Practice

✅ Day 6: Flashcards & Self-Test

  • Create flashcards:
    • Key terms: privacy, automation, dopamine, AI
    • Case studies: drones, self-driving cars
  • Review every effect (beneficial vs. harmful)

Tip: Use Quizlet or make them physically!

✅ Day 7: Peer Review & Discussion

  • Discuss pros/cons of each innovation
  • Share a personal experience with technology that had unexpected results
  • Practice explaining each topic out loud

Helpful Questions:

  • What makes an innovation “responsible”?
  • How can programmers reduce harm?

📌 Final Notes

  • Always analyze both intended and unintended impacts
  • Consider equity, ethics, safety, and access
  • Technology is powerful — use it wisely

🌐 Digital Divide — Study Notes

🗓️ Date: March 17, 2025

🧠 Topic Overview

The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals, communities, or countries with access to digital technology and those without.

Dimensions of the Digital Divide:

  • 📶 Access: Availability of internet and devices.
  • 🧑‍💻 Usage: Skills and literacy to use tech effectively.

📚 Topic 1: What is the Digital Divide?

  • Inequality in access to:
    • Internet
    • Devices (laptops, smartphones)
    • Digital skills
  • Results in unequal opportunities in:
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Healthcare
    • Civic engagement

💸 Topic 2: Factors Contributing to the Digital Divide

1. Economic Disparities

  • High cost of devices & internet
  • Poorer schools lack funding for tech
  • Limited access to online banking and digital services

2. Educational Disparities

  • Schools in wealthier areas = better tech tools
  • Early STEM exposure gives advantage
  • Richer students access online tutoring, private learning

3. Geographic Disparities

  • Rural areas lack broadband infrastructure
  • Infrastructure too expensive for low-population areas
  • Rural students often can’t use digital learning tools

🌍 Topic 3: The Digital Divide in San Diego

  • 📊 San Ysidro: ~40% of households lack wired broadband
  • Other affected areas:
    • City Heights – 16%
    • San Ysidro – 17%
    • National City – 18%
    • Barrio Logan/Logan Heights – 21%

🛠️ Efforts to Bridge the Divide

🔌 Access 4 All Program

  • Free public Wi-Fi (bus stops, parks, etc.)
  • Free computer & internet skills classes at libraries

📈 Broadband Master Plan

  • Expands access and affordability for underserved neighborhoods

🧤 Volunteering Opportunities

💻 Computer Refurbisher (HandsOn San Diego)

  • Clean/prepare Lenovo Yoga laptops, desktops, peripherals
  • Minimum age: 16+
  • Helps provide devices to underserved communities

🔁 Impacts of the Digital Divide

  • Worsens economic + educational inequality
  • Limits access to essential services (healthcare, job search)
  • Reduces innovation & slows economic growth

🧩 Practice Review — Multiple Choice (2020 Sample)

Question:
Which of the following actions are likely to be helpful in reducing the digital divide? (Select two)

A. Designing new technologies intended only for advanced users
B. Designing new technologies to be accessible to individuals with different physical abilities
C. Implementing government regulations restricting citizens’ access to Web content
D. Having world governments support the construction of network infrastructure

✅ Correct Answers:
B & D

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Digital divide = inequality in access + use of tech
  • Caused by economic, educational, and geographic factors
  • Solutions involve policy, education, infrastructure, and volunteering
  • Local efforts in San Diego are active and growing

📘 Study Guide: Crowdsourcing in Computing

✅ What is Crowdsourcing?

Crowdsourcing is the practice of gathering input, ideas, or services from a large group of people, typically via the internet. It enables the completion of tasks that are often too complex, expensive, or large in scale for a small team.

Key Characteristics:

  • Relies on mass participation
  • Increases diversity of input
  • Breaks tasks into smaller components

🧠 AP CSP Connections

  • Big Idea 5 – Impact of Computing: Crowdsourcing increases access and collaboration.
  • Data Aggregation: User input improves predictive models and AI.
  • Innovations: Used in platforms like Wikipedia, Foldit, citizen science apps, and open-source development.

📺 Case Study: Foldit Gamers Solve HIV Enzyme Structure

  • Foldit is an online puzzle game that simulates protein folding.
  • Gamers, not scientists, solved the structure of an HIV-related enzyme in 10 days.
  • Demonstrates how crowdsourcing can outperform experts and AI in certain tasks.

🌐 Real-World Examples of Crowdsourcing

1. Wikipedia

  • Free encyclopedia created by global volunteers.
  • Pros: Constantly updated, collaborative.
  • Cons: Risk of bias, needs fact-checking.

2. Spotify Collaborative Playlists

  • Users contribute songs to shared playlists.
  • Pros: Community-curated, diverse.
  • Cons: Quality control issues, inconsistent themes.

3. Foldit (Scientific Gaming)

  • Players solve real biological problems through gameplay.
  • Pros: Harnesses human intuition and logic.
  • Cons: Requires verification by experts.

📊 Types of Crowdsourcing

Wisdom of the Crowd

  • Uses collective judgment from a group to make decisions.
  • Example: Customer reviews guiding product improvements.

Crowd Creation

  • Public submits ideas or content.
  • Example: Logo contests, custom product designs.

Crowd Voting

  • Community votes on submitted options.
  • Example: Choosing new product flavors or features.

Crowdfunding

  • Public contributes money toward a shared goal.
  • Example: Kickstarter projects, GoFundMe campaigns.

🔍 Summary: Advantages & Challenges

Advantages:

  • Speeds up problem-solving
  • Inexpensive compared to hiring experts
  • Diverse perspectives lead to more creative solutions

Challenges:

  • Reliability of contributors
  • Ethical concerns about data use
  • Need for oversight and validation

📝 Review Question

Which of the following best describes crowdsourcing?

A. Hiring one expert for a task
B. Using AI to generate data
✅ C. Collecting contributions from a large group of people
D. Outsourcing work to another company