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Board hears first reads on new science, health and elective courses including AI and video-game design
Summary
The curriculum and instruction committee presented new high school units in Earth Science and biology, revised health curricula, and proposed two new math electives (Artificial Intelligence and Video Game Design); staff said the electives would require no additional cost and would use Open Educational Resources.
The Southington School District presented first readings for several new curriculum units and elective courses, including an Artificial Intelligence elective and a video-game design course.
At the Jan. 23 meeting the curriculum and instruction committee summarized new units and course proposals it reviewed Jan. 10. New high-school science units described included a high-school Earth Science unit titled Geodynamics: Energy, Forces and Earth's Crust, a biology unit on evolution that examines flightlessness and other evolutionary examples, and a biology ecology unit using the decline of sea otters to explore systems from cells to ecosystems.
The committee also presented revised Health 1 and Health 2 curricula that present state and national standards through a skills-based-health approach; focus skills listed included analyzing influences, accessing information, interpersonal communication, decision-making, goal setting, self-management and advocacy. Committee members clarified Health 1 remains a half-year course.
Two proposed high-school math electives were presented as semester courses for grades 10'12: a semester-long Artificial Intelligence course covering programming concepts related to AI and computer science in society, and a semester-long Video Game Design course focused on programming fundamentals, logical thinking and problem solving. Staff said both electives would not require additional staff, that the math department plans to offer one section of each course in alternating years, and that the curriculum would rely on Open Educational Resources (CodeHS), meaning no direct textbook cost to the district.
Board members praised the curricular direction and asked clarifying questions about materials and course length; the items were presented as first reads and no vote was taken on adoption at this meeting.
