CITI//CODING
Sector 03 // Units

Nine
units

Every unit across both years: the questions it asks, what you learn, the skills you build and what you make. Year Two Robotics and Game Theory are electives; every other unit is required.

Program overview ->

Year One // the foundation

unit.datY1 / U1
YEAR 1 // UNIT 1
REQUIRED

Introduction to Problem Solving

Essential questions
  • How does coding apply to personal and professional contexts?
  • What organizational skills manage coding projects?
Core content
Four-step problem solving: Define, Prepare, Try, ReflectFile management and organizational structuresDigital footprint and intellectual property
Key skills
  • Apply the problem-solving process to web design
  • Create, store, sort and back up files
  • Understand copyright, Creative Commons and legal obligations
Projects & output
Management functions and organization structuresProject file systems with backup and disaster recovery plans
Standards Digital Citizenship: copyright, acceptable use and ethical behavior
Back to the mission map
unit.datY1 / U2
YEAR 1 // UNIT 2
REQUIRED

Introduction to HTML & CSS

Essential questions
  • How does one move from idea to implementation?
  • Which markup languages suit specific projects?
Core content
The website design process and information architectureHTML5 fundamentals: DOCTYPE, semantic elements, structureMarkup language selection and browser support
Key skills
  • Run client interviews and competitive analysis
  • Write well-formed HTML to W3C standards
  • Use input elements, attributes and meta tags for SEO
Projects & output
Code.org foundationsWeb development activities
Standards HTML5 Fundamentals (objectives 1 to 6): structure, file naming, validation
See it in the Build Lab: Web ->Back to the mission map
unit.datY1 / U3
YEAR 1 // UNIT 3
REQUIRED

My First Website & Server-Side Management

Essential questions
  • What are the foundational HTML and stylesheet elements?
  • When should images be incorporated?
  • How does one manage large CSS projects?
Core content
Client-side vs server-side technologyHTML structure and content organizationCSS properties and selectors: element, ID, class, pseudo-classDocument flow, inheritance and specificity
Key skills
  • Build multi-page websites
  • Use inline, embedded and external stylesheets
  • Style tables and forms with CSS
  • Validate pages and publish them over SFTP
Projects & output
Client-managed business websitesImage galleriesContact formsNavigation systems
Standards CSS Fundamentals (objectives 1 to 4); Site Planning (objectives 1 to 2)
See it in the Build Lab: Web ->Back to the mission map
unit.datY1 / U4
YEAR 1 // UNIT 4
REQUIRED

Building Data-Driven Websites & Client Management

Essential questions
  • What purposes do databases serve?
  • What distinguishes relational databases?
  • What is normalization, and why does it matter?
Core content
Database concepts in real business operationsRelational structure: primary and foreign keysData normalizationTables and forms in web designServer-side form processing
Key skills
  • Describe the role of databases in business
  • Demonstrate normalization
  • Build accessible forms and tables
  • Connect HTML forms to server-side scripts
  • Explain GET vs POST
Projects & output
Collaborative database-driven online gameCareer portfolio
Career pathways

Web Designer, Web Developer, UI/UX Designer, Front-end, Back-end and Full Stack Developer

Standards Standard 5: image editing and optimization; Standard 6: career exploration and portfolio development
See it in the Build Lab: Data ->Back to the mission map

Year Two // going deeper

unit.datY2 / U1
YEAR 2 // UNIT 1
REQUIRED

Building Data Driven Applications

Essential questions
  • How do I map out my data design?
  • What is entity mapping?
  • What tools streamline this process?
Core content
Advanced database concepts and conceptual data modelingEntity identification and relationship modeling: one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-manyRelational databases, keys and normalizationTable creation and management
Key skills
  • Create entities by identifying relationships
  • Locate unique identifiers
  • Design back-end admin systems
  • Produce web-enabled database interfaces
Projects & output
Online journal systemsStudent project systemsMaterial inventory systemsTournament laddering systems
Standards CM5 Career Readiness Skills; Career Majors
See it in the Build Lab: Data ->Back to the mission map
unit.datY2 / U2
YEAR 2 // UNIT 2
REQUIRED

Client & Project Management

Essential questions
  • What documentation begins a project?
  • How do you establish contracts?
  • What defines a spec document?
  • How do you approach milestones?
Core content
Establishing client relationshipsReaching agreement on expectationsPlanning for results with clear rolesSupporting change managementAssessing the relationship through feedback cycles
Key skills
  • Interview clients and gather requirements
  • Prepare specification documents
  • Manage milestones and deliverables
  • Produce change control documents
  • Close contracts with sign-offs
Projects & output
Specification documentsPitch proposalsChange control managementContract delivery
Standards CM5 Career Readiness Skills (1, 5, 9); Career Majors in Business-Related Technology, Information Management, Resource Management and Interpersonal Dynamics
Back to the mission map
unit.datY2 / U3
YEAR 2 // UNIT 3
REQUIRED

JavaScript Fundamentals

Essential questions
  • Weeks 1 to 2: where JavaScript goes, output, statements, syntax, comments
  • Weeks 3 to 4: let, const, operators, data types, scope, type conversion
  • Weeks 5 to 6: functions, scope, objects, event handling
  • Weeks 7 to 8: string methods, search, templates, regex, error handling
Core content
Variables and operatorsConditional statements and loopsFunctions and objectsEventsStrings and regular expressionsError handling
Key skills
  • Use variables and conditional logic
  • Write loops and functions
  • Respond to user events
  • Apply JavaScript to real-world problems
Projects & output
Wiki-style self-support website documenting skills with explanations, examples and sample code
Standards K-12 Computer Science 9-12.DL.4 and 9-12.DL.5
See it in the Build Lab: Script ->Explore jsdemo as a guest ↗Back to the mission map
unit.datY2 / U4
YEAR 2 // UNIT 4
ELECTIVE

Autonomous Robotics

Essential questions
  • What languages code robots?
  • What qualifies as autonomous?
  • What are the potential applications?
  • What sensors enable autonomous operation?
Core content
Motor control setupEncoded vs timed movementSensor initialization and placementWhile loops vs repeat and for loopsCode compartmentalization with functionsMapping and external data storage
Key skills
  • Configure motors and sensors
  • Code movement
  • Monitor sensors and adapt
  • Create and call functions
  • Collaborate and co-code as a team
Projects & output
VEX robotics researchMulti-function robot buildsAutonomous pathfindingVision sensor programsColor barcode navigation
Standards CM5 Career Readiness Skills; Career Majors
See it in the Build Lab: Robots ->Back to the mission map
unit.datY2 / U5
YEAR 2 // UNIT 5
ELECTIVE

Game Theory & Online Delivery

Essential questions
  • What makes games successful?
  • Which platforms support each game?
  • What databases support gameplay?
  • How do you manage multi-developer teams?
  • How do you balance memory and performance?
Core content
Level design and storyboardingImage optimizationCollision detectionInstance variablesSprite pathfinding and layout managementSound, music and MIME typesCross-platform development
Key skills
  • Research and brainstorm projects
  • Storyboard and plan
  • Manage compartmental code
  • Implement collision detection
  • Write enemy AI and pathfinding
Projects & output
Game storyboardsMulti-level mapsData functionsGraphical requirementsCollision systems
Standards CM5 Career Readiness Skills; Career Majors
See it in the Build Lab: Games ->Back to the mission map
Unit details come from the Year One and Year Two curriculum maps.