With deep gratitude and respect, we are honored to be learning and unlearning on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)

Last Updated: September 1, 2025

Teacher: Colin Kam (he/him)
Room: 142
Blocks: 1-1, 2-2 (concurrent with ICT 9 and CST 10)

Pre-requisites: Grade 10-12.

• Grade 10-12 students who wish to complete the equivalent ICT 9 curriculum (i.e. Computer Science Principles) — default.
• Grade 11-12 students who wish to complete the equivalent CST 10 curriculum (i.e. Web and Game Programming) but with a senior credit — more info.

Digital Communications 11 (DCM 11) is a full-year introductory computer course for students with limited computing and programming experience. The course follows an adapted AP Computer Science Principles curriculum (minus the Create Performance Task and the AP exam) and fully meets the curricular and core competencies of the BC curriculum.

In this course, students evaluate software and technology, develop information and communication technology (ICT) literacy and skills as they work together and solve problems and communicate with one another, and expand their employability by creating and using multimedia files for distribution and presentation.

Curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/adst/11/digital-communications

• Big Ideas:
  • Personal design choices require self-exploration, collaboration, and evaluation and refinement of skills.
  • Design and content can influence the lives of others.
• Curricular Competencies:
  • Identify and apply sources of inspiration and information
  • Identify appropriate tools, technologies, materials, processes, and time needed for production
  • Identify and assess skills needed for design interests, and develop specific plans to learn or refine them over time
  • Explore existing, new, and emerging tools, technologies, and systems and evaluate their suitability for their design interests
  • Evaluate impacts, including unintended negative consequences, of choices made about technology use
• Content:
  • digital tools to communicate and solicit information
  • impacts of social media in global communications
  • ethics, influences, issues and risks in digital communication and tools
  • critical evaluation of online resources
  • appropriate use of technology, including digital citizenship, etiquette, and literacy

Schedule: The timeline may be subjected to change at the teacher’s discretion.

• Unit 1 – Digital Information (3 weeks)
• Unit 2 – The Internet (3 weeks)
• Unit 3 – JS Programming (3 weeks)
• Unit 4 – Algorithms (2 weeks)
• Unit 5 – Data Analysis (1 week)
• Unit 6 – Simulations (1 week)
• Unit 7 – Online Data Security (2 weeks)
• Unit 8 – Emerging Technologies (1 week)
• Final Project – Indigenous Storytelling (2 weeks)

Students who have already taken ICT 9 may elect to complete the CST 10 curriculum instead.

Student Materials: Our cohort will be following the Computer Science Principles curriculum on Khan Academy. Because students are required to watch videos on their own at certain times, they will need to have a headphone or earbud (with 2.5 mm jack) to connect to the school PCs (no Bluetooth).

Assignments: Students are provided a sufficient amount of time in class to complete their assignments and master concepts. Students are responsible for their own education and are expected to self-regulate in this cohort. This means that they need to proactive, catch up if they missed classes, and seek extra help whenever needed. Student can catch up on late and missing work during FIT and scheduled I-Days scattered within the course.

Quizzes can be taken at any time before the scheduled tests. However, tests can only be taken during dedicated classes. Students who missed a scheduled test must provide a written note or e-mail from a parent acknowledging the missed test before they can write it.

Classroom Rules: Students are responsible for taking full advantage of their learning opportunities. The teacher’s responsibility is to provide such opportunities, to fairly evaluate students, and to establish a safe learning environment by supporting these five classroom rules:

1. Come to class on time.
2. Be prepared to learn.
3. Respect yourself and others.
4. Take good care of school property.
5. Keep the classroom clean.

Washroom privileges are allowed at the teacher’s discretion but not to be abused. NEVER bring food, drinks, nor cell phones into the classroom, as they will be confiscated on sight and returned at the end of the day or the next day.

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on assignments, quizzes and tests. The midterm mark is based on Units 1 to 3. Final marks will be calculated with following weights:

• Unit 1 – Digital Information (15%)
• Unit 2 – The Internet (15%)
• Unit 3 – JS Programming (20%)
• Unit 4 – Algorithms (10%)
• Unit 5 – Data Analysis (5%)
• Unit 6 – Simulations (5%)
• Unit 7 – Online Data Security (15%)
• Unit 8 – Emerging Technologies (5%)
• Final Project – Indigenous Storytelling (10%)

Because students who have already taken ICT 9 may elect to complete the CST 10 curriculum instead, the distribution of marks is subject to change based on their curricular choice.

The cut-off dates are as follows:

Letter grades are based on the student’s ability to meet the learning outcomes of the course. Work habits are now integrated into the report card comments.