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 CST 10 and DCM 11)

Pre-requisites: Grade 9 only. Grade 10-12 students ought to take DCM 11 instead. Grade 9 students who wish to focus on web and game programming can take CST 10 instead, but its reporting is based on letter/percentage grade instead of proficiency scale.

Information and Communication Technology 9 (ICT 9) 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/9

• Big Ideas:
  • Complex tasks require sequencing of skills
  • Complex tasks require different technologies and tools at different stages.
• Curricular Competencies:
  • Identify and use sources of inspiration and information; screen ideas against criteria and constraints
  • Identify the skills and skill levels needed, individually or as a group, in relation to specific projects, and develop and refine them as needed
  • Choose, adapt, and if necessary learn about appropriate tools and technologies to use for tasks
  • Critically reflect on their design thinking and processes, and evaluate their ability to work effectively both as individuals and collaboratively in a group, including their ability to share and maintain an efficient co-operative work space
  • Evaluate the personal, social, and environmental impacts, including unintended negative consequences, of the choices they make about technology use
• Content:
  • binary representation of various data types
  • text-based coding, drag-and-drop mobile development, programming modular components
  • design and function of networking hardware and topology
  • current and future impacts of evolving web standards and cloud-based technologies
  • strategies for curating and managing personal digital content, including management, personalization, organization, maintenance, contribution, creation, and publishing of digital content

Schedule: The day-to-day schedule is published on Teams. 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)

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 reporting is based on Units 1 to 3, while the final proficiency is based on the 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%)

The cut-off dates are as follows:

Proficiency scales 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.