The document is a letter from a mathematics department recommending a student for an independent study course in computing based on their success in AP Computer Science. The independent study course, called Computing Independent Study (CIS), is a year-long math credit that focuses on building and maintaining a Linux cluster and exploring emerging applications in scientific and super computing. Students who have already taken AP Computer Science and are seniors are eligible to take CIS, which meets every other week after school to install new software, discuss research projects, and cover topics related to parallel and scientific computing.

1. Mathematics Department
Baldwin Senior High School
Dear APCS Student: Course Selection
Week!!!
Congratulations, you are to be commended for all your hard work and
success in APCS so far this year! Due to your dedication to the study of Computer
Science, you have been selected to take Computing Independent Study as
described below. You really should understand Computer Science to be successful in
many careers nowadays. Computer Programming is a very useful skill in all Science
and Technical degrees in college. A good background in computing can even help
you in fields related to Statistics, Economics, Sociology and Psychology!
Computing Independent Study (CIS) is a full-year course of study for 1
Math Credit that meets once every other week after school and is offered
to Seniors who have already taken AP Computer Science (APCS). The main
emphasis of this class is to learn how to build, maintain and use a Linux
Cluster. Another focus of this course is to learn about new and emerging
applications related to Scientific Computing and Super Computing. CIS will
investigate Free Linux Open Source Software (FLOSS). PreReq = APCS.
You may take CIS as a Senior if you have already completed APCS. CIS
meets every other week after school. At each meeting we install and test new
software and discuss at home research projects for the coming weeks. Topics
explored in CIS may include:
Floyd’s Taxonomy, Amdahl’s Law, sequential vs. parallel programming,
metrics, running time, efficiency, speedup vs. workup, SMP clusters,
Beowulf clusters, Hybrid clusters, 2D plots, 3D plots, Iterated Fractal
Systems, Mandelbrot Set, Julia Sets, Ray Tracing, Large Integers, Fermat’s
Last Theorem, Beal’s Conjecture, Mersenne Primes, tachyon, povray,
blender, openMosix, PVM, openMPI, parallelJava, SAGE, pelicanHPC,
mpicc, mpiCC, mpif77, mpif90 and mpi4py.
I strongly recommend that you consider taking CIS next year. With your
superior computer background, I know that you will enjoy learning and discovering
new concepts in Super Computing!
Sincerely,
A. Jorge García
calcpage@aol.com
Applied Math & CompSci
Baldwin SHS & Nassau CC
http://shadowfaxrant.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009
Please fill-in the blanks below and return to your teacher.
Name: Grade: Coure Selection: Counselor:
____________________ __________ CIS ____________________