Chennai: This academic year, students of Classes III-VIII in CBSE schools don’t just learn from textbooks. A portion of their lessons includes a module covering topics ranging from logical reasoning and data formatting to an introduction to artificial intelligence.Titled ‘Computational Thinking and AI’, the module developed by the board helps inculcate in students the ability to solve conceptual, competency-based, and higher-order thinking questions—which have been increasingly asked in board exams in the last few years, said school heads.“There are student and teacher handbooks, and the teachers are free to incorporate them into lessons. Since computational thinking is closely linked to math, the modules are taught during math lessons for at least 15 minutes a day. For the AI portion, the computer science teachers are deputed,” said J Sundar, principal, Bala Vidya Mandir, Adyar.The handbooks cover a range of topics from permutations and combinations to pattern recognition. For AI, the topics mainly revolve around its applications and the benefits of AI platforms. Teachers’ handbooks provide problems and solutions, along with methods to get the answer.Some schools are providing an exclusive period to teach the module daily. “There are several concepts that run deep, and it is better not to disturb the regular flow of classes,” said G Haribabu, senior principal, Maharshi Vidya Mandir, Chetpet.A few schools imparted training to their teachers for the module. “The initiative is well-received by both teachers and students. For the time being, we are not assessing students on questions from these handbooks,” said P G Subramaniam, principal, Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram, Kilpauk.While several schools are yet to assess students based on these modules, some school heads said the board was planning to make the module a compulsory subject by 2028-2029 academic year — when students now in Class VIII reach Class X for board exams.Educationists welcomed the move. But they said the emphasis on AI should not be high at the school level. “While logical reasoning and conceptual thinking questions are a welcome addition, it appears that the board has followed the fad surrounding AI and integrated them into the curriculum. There is no need to expose students to a complicated and evolving technology at a young age,” Balaji Sampath, an educationist, said.
