IB Computer Science HL/SL
2024/2025
Contact Information
Teacher: Ainsley Laing
Email: alaing@quarrylane.org
Office Hours: 8:30 – 9:00 T,W,T,F or by appointment
Communication Expectations:
Students are encouraged to discuss any questions or issues they may have in person. During class time, students
will have ample opportunities to bring up concerns. Emails will be addressed between 24-48 hrs.
Course Description
The IB Computer Science course is a two-year elective course in the International Baccalaureate program, intended
to provide students with a solid foundation in computer programming and computational thinking, an understanding of
how computers and computer networks operate and how to engineer user focused robust computer products.
Because of the rigor of the course, AP Computer Science Principles is a recommended prerequisite.
Course Materials
● Students must bring their charged personal computers to each class.
● Course materials will be provided by instructor.
Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives
The course aims to enable students to:
1. develop conceptual understanding that allows connections to be made between different areas of the subject, and
to other subjects
2. acquire and apply a body of knowledge, methods, tools and techniques that characterize computer science
3. develop the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesize information and claims relating to technological systems
4. develop the ability to approach unfamiliar situations with creativity and resilience
5. design, model and implement solutions to local and global problems to meet the requirements of clients, users and
systems
6. develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations of computer science
7. develop the ability to evaluate the impact of emerging technologies on a range of stakeholders
8. develop the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively
9. develop awareness of the ethical, environmental, economic, cultural, and social impact of computer science
10. develop a critical awareness and understanding of threats to computer systems and their mitigation
How to Succeed in This Course
● Consistently meet and exceed expectations
● Provide evidence of independent exploration, evaluation and execution
● Quality of work shows a high level of professionalism, utilizing industry standards thoroughly and
appropriately
● Articulate purpose, intention and process in every assignment
● Freely engage in thoughtful discussions that advance projects positively, critically and creatively
Guidelines for Turning in Work
Work will be turned in using our class google drive where students will have their own folders.
Late Work Submission Policy
The QLS Handbook states “Consequences for late homework are at the discretion of each academic department. In
general, no late homework assignments are accepted, unless permitted by a teacher within their policy. Assignments
are considered late if not completed by the beginning of the class period on the assigned due date. In addition, work
is not accepted if it has been completed during the class period of another subject area and may be subject to
confiscation in the event that a teacher is aware that a student is completing an assignment during class time.”
● Submission Deadline: All assignments are expected to be submitted by the designated due date and time,
as specified by the course instructor in the assignment instructions.
● Late Submission Window:
● a. Late submissions will be accepted within a specified window following the original due date.
● b. The late submission window is one day after the original due date.
● Late Submission Penalties:
● a. Assignments submitted within the late submission window will be subject to a penalty of 25% of
the total possible points for the assignment.
● b. Assignments submitted after the late submission window will not be accepted, and students will
receive a score of zero for the assignment.
● Extensions:
● a. Students experiencing extenuating circumstances that prevent timely assignment submission
may request an extension.
● b. Extension requests must be submitted prior to the original due date.
● c. Extension requests should include a detailed explanation of the circumstances and any
supporting documentation, if available.
● d. The teacher has the discretion to grant or deny extension requests based on the validity of the
reasons provided.
● Consistency and Fairness:
● a. This policy will be applied consistently to all students in the course to ensure fairness and equity.
● b. Exceptions to this policy will be made only in extraordinary circumstances and at the discretion of
the instructor.
Retest Policy
Retesting will be used in extenuating circumstances using a different test or assessment from the original. This will
be decided by the instructor.
Absences
Entering school after the start of the school day without prior approval may prevent the student’s participation in
School functions and activities later in the day. Students with more than 7 absences per semester, excused or
unexcused, may be in jeopardy of not being promoted to the next grade. Questions relating to the school’s policy on
absence and make-up work should be referred to the Director of Student Affairs.
Grading Categories
Grading will be broken down into Assessments and Exams (final exams). Assessments include all programming
projects, weekly work, quizzes and tests. The assessments category will comprise 85% of the grade weighting and
the final exam/project will comprise 15% of the grade weighting.
QLS Grading Scale
Grade Point Grade Point
Letter
Percentage College Prep Honors/AP/IB
Grade
Course Course
A+ 97.00 – 100 4.0 5.0
93.00 –
A 4.0 5.0
96.99
90.00 –
A- 3.7 4.7
92.99
87.00 –
B+ 3.3 4.3
89.99
83.00 –
B 3.0 4.0
86.99
80.00 –
B- 2.7 3.7
82.99
77.00 –
C+ 2.3 3.3
79.99
73.00 –
C 2.0 3.0
76.99
70.00 –
C- 1.7 2.7
72.99
67.00 –
D+ 1.3 1.3
69.99
63.00 –
D 1.0 1.0
66.99
60.00 –
D- 0.7 0.7
62.99
F 0 – 59.99 0 0
*Note - grade points for A and A+ grades are the same in the GPA calculation.
IB Grade Conversion Chart
IB Score Grade %
Descriptor
Range Range
Excellent Performance 7 98 – 100
Very Good
6 92 – 97
Performance
Good Performance 5 88 – 91
Satisfactory
4 80 – 87
Performance
Mediocre Performance 3 70 – 79
Poor Performance 2 60 – 69
Very Poor Performance 1 59 or less
Academic Honesty
For the School community, intellectual honesty within the learning process is essential. Cheating, plagiarism, and
misrepresenting academic work are not allowed. Plagiarism, which comes from the Latin word “plagiarius” (meaning
kidnapper), refers to taking someone else’s ideas and passing them off as your own. When using another person’s
ideas or expressions, whether directly quoting or paraphrasing the information, it is vital that students document their
sources. This includes any images, videos, or other multimedia elements that might be incorporated into academic
work. If students receive help from parents, tutors, or peers, the essential work and final product submitted must be
recognizably their own and the assistance appropriately acknowledged. Discussions of plagiarism and the means of
avoiding it will be conducted by the faculty throughout the year.
Teachers and students must report all incidents of cheating and plagiarism to the Program Director. By not reporting
known incidents, teachers and students are also jeopardizing their standing in the school community. In most cases,
misrepresented work receives no credit, and the student may be placed on behavioral probation, denied certain
privileges, or suspended. If the academic dishonesty continues, the consequences increase and include the
possibility of expulsion.
Academic honesty extends to all intellectual properties in which students become involved during their academic
careers. The school’s goal is to promote the creativity of all its community members. However, students must not
divulge any works or trade secrets that might be subject to copyrights, patents, etc. As students will be exposed to
non-public intellectual properties during their education, they are to display appropriate fidelity at all times and ask
permission before communicating intellectual properties to the public or representing them as their own.
