In the season of growth, the technology education at Capital Normal University Affiliated High School is blossoming in three ways: a deep-rooted AI curriculum system in the classroom, a groundbreaking interactive science popularization feast, and a matrix of innovative achievements that have accumulated over time. Let us glimpse the vibrant technological landscape and uncover the growth secrets of future innovative talents.
Foundation: AI Curriculum System Empowering Innovative Futures
Orange Pi: Opening the “Creator’s Toolbox” to the Intelligent World
Recently, the school introduced the Orange Pi curriculum, opening a door to the world of technological innovation for students, allowing the seeds of innovation to quietly sprout on campus.
The Orange Pi AI Pro development board, developed in collaboration with Huawei, is a high-performance AI development board. It is equipped with the Ascend AI processor, boasting a powerful computing capability of 8TOPS INT8, with memory options of 8GB and 16GB. Whether for analyzing various data such as images and videos or for inference calculations, it can handle tasks with ease, making it widely applicable in education, robotics, and drones, serving as a reliable assistant for exploring the mysteries of technology.
The course content is precisely designed, unfolding teaching activities from three dimensions: programming algorithms based on mathematical thinking, electronic IoT based on physical knowledge, and application development based on AI scenarios. Students will start from scratch, step by step installing the Orange system, mastering the methods to connect various sensors, and using them proficiently. Through project-based systematic methods, everyone will create their own smart home system, adding more technological color to campus life. We will also contribute wisdom to the renovation of the school parking lot by creating a license plate recognition system to achieve intelligent management of vehicle entry and exit, allowing students to experience the power of technology in practice.
AI General Education Course: A Required Course for Coexisting with Intelligent Agents
At the beginning of this semester, the information technology course for the entire first-year class implemented an artificial intelligence curriculum. In class, students can experience the latest achievements of AI technology, appreciate the charm of generative AI such as text-to-image, image-to-image, and text-to-video, and experience the applications of discriminative AI such as image classification and speech recognition in real-life scenarios. They can also trace the development trajectory of the AI revolution through milestones like the Dartmouth Conference, expert systems, and deep learning. AI gradually evolves into a learning partner, providing ideas and possible solutions. While students perceive the convenience AI brings to learning and life, they also recognize the limitations and risks of AI, especially the limitations of large language models in symbolic reasoning and fact-checking through simple questions like “How many strawberries are there?” In the context of a new round of AI transformation, we will guide students to embrace and wisely use new technologies in future AI classes, learning AI to better master it, while cultivating computational thinking and emphasizing the establishment of ethical awareness, forming a value orientation of technology for good.
Breaking Boundaries: Immersive Awakening of the Scientist Theme Exhibition
Painting Scientific Dreams with Ink and Brush – “Art Meets Science” Exhibition
Under the warm spring sun, a unique “Science Corridor” quietly blooms beside the track. Students take up their brushes, capturing Einstein’s fluffy white hair, Tu Youyou’s focused expression, and Qian Xuesen’s determined gaze on paper. Each stroke tells a story of respect for scientists. These panels not only carry the scientific dreams of youth but also make the abstract spirit of scientists tangible – it turns out that great souls can also gaze gently at us through colored pencils and ink.
Maker Workshop – Wearing Creative Ideas
In the Maker Workshop, the image of scientists is no longer just black-and-white photos in textbooks, but is brought to life with the colorful imagination of students. Everyone uses colored markers to outline interesting scientist images, each student transforms into a “scientific creative artist,” personally making these unique scientist images into one-of-a-kind badges. Some students cartoonify Hawking’s black hole theory, while others turn Yuan Longping’s rice fields into polka dot art. When these badges, filled with creativity and respect, are pinned to collars, the spirit of scientists is also “worn” in the heart – it turns out that scientists can not only be revered but can also be represented in such an interesting way!
Scientific Knowledge Quiz – A Celebration of Solving Problems Together
Between the trees, over two hundred scientist puzzle cards sway in the wind, like wisdom fruits waiting to be deciphered. Newton’s apple falls, Zu Chongzhi’s pi mystery, Curie’s radioactive conjecture… Students crowd under the cards, eagerly snatching questions and shouting out answers. Correct answers can be exchanged for voting rights to support their favorite scientist’s artwork, and they can also receive hidden small prizes.
AI Interactive Zone – Chatting Face-to-Face with Scientists
Here, students can have voice conversations with digital representations of scientists like Einstein and Turing. Einstein’s teasing voice rings in their ears: “Kid, don’t just focus on relativity; first, explain your physics mistakes!”; Turing’s digital persona says, “True intelligence should not fear making mistakes”… These “scientist friends” who can joke and tease make the towering scientific giants feel accessible. The greatness of scientists lies in their shared confusions with ordinary people; they choose to persist in exploration and continue to climb.
Scientist Book Corner – Turning Pages, Touching the Stars and the Sea
Students touch the warmth of the stars between the pages, as the weight of history rushes towards them. “The Technological Meritorious Person of the Party – Qian Xuesen” hides the three thousand sleepless nights behind the two bombs and one satellite, while “Science Through Galileo’s Eyes” recreates the solitary courage of the telescope against the shackles of the church. Students sit on benches, their fingers gliding over the aerospace notes of Academician Sun Jiadong, suddenly understanding the dedication of this “chief engineer” of China’s aerospace, from “Dongfanghong 1” to “Chang’e 1”, from “Fengyun Meteorological Satellite” to “Beidou Navigation Satellite”; opening his life history is like reading a history of the development of China’s aerospace industry. When the orange of the sun and the green of youth meet the yellowed pages of scientific faith, the stories of those once regarded as “distant greats” become lighthouses illuminating the hearts of youth.
Blossoming: The Innovative Fruits Nurtured by Hardcore Competitions
Middle and Primary School Students’ Aircraft Simulation Challenge
During the Middle and Primary School Students’ Aircraft Simulation Challenge held in Hangzhou, Capital Normal University Affiliated High School’s 6 teams in the collaborative competition track and 4 teams in the creative competition track advanced, ultimately achieving sixth place nationally and first place in Beijing, with three teams ranking among the top eight in the national collaborative competition.
Beijing Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition and Jinpeng Forum
In the recently concluded Beijing Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition, our school won 2 gold medals for first prize, 1 silver medal for second prize, and a special award for technological innovation from Beijing Jiaotong University. Additionally, two students advanced to the Beijing Youth Science and Technology Forum city competition, with their research projects originating from real life. As the young author Yuan Jiarui said, “Seeing my grandfather at home unable to move due to a stroke, I decided to develop a head-controlled omnidirectional wheelchair. This wheelchair allows stroke patients to control it precisely through simple head movements and can navigate freely in narrow spaces, truly providing comprehensive travel convenience for stroke patients. In this competition, thanks to the support of the school and teachers, I experienced the full process of learning and practicing science and engineering, and created my ideal work, gaining a lot.”
Informatics Competition
From March 1 to 2, 2025, Capital Normal University Affiliated High School successfully hosted the selection event for the Beijing team of the National Youth Informatics Olympiad (NOI 2025). After fierce competition, our students Chen Yixuan from Class 2 of Grade 11 and Wang Xiwen from Class 1 of Grade 10 stood out with excellent overall scores and successfully joined the Beijing team, representing Beijing on the national stage.
This selection result for the Beijing team was based on the standard scores of NOIP 2024 (National Youth Informatics Olympiad) (accounting for 40%) and the combined scores of the provincial selection (accounting for 60%), with a full score of 100. Chen Yixuan and Wang Xiwen demonstrated solid programming skills and outstanding algorithm abilities in both rounds of selection, ultimately securing a place in the Beijing team. In the earlier announced NOIP 2024 award list, many of our students achieved excellent results:
First Prize (6 people): Chen Yixuan (Grade 11, Class 2, full score, only 4 people in Beijing), Wang Zheng (Grade 11, Class 8), Wang Xiwen (Grade 10, Class 1), Zhang Rongjian (Grade 11, Class 6), Wu Yuhang (Grade 10, Class 1), and Lü Jinghang (Grade 10, Class 4);
Second Prize (4 people): Wu Runze (Grade 11, Class 1), Sun Hongsheng (Grade 11, Class 6), Li Jiaxu (Grade 11, Class 3), and Song Yuyang (Grade 10, Class 1);
Third Prize (2 people): Leng Xintao (Grade 10, Class 1) and Luo Haotong (Grade 12, Class 2).
Capital Normal University Affiliated High School’s Information Society consistently implements the school’s educational philosophy of cultivating virtue and talent, supporting students in deepening their expertise in the field of informatics through systematic course design, professional coaching teams, and personalized training paths..
Astronomy and Earth Science Competition
As one of the series of activities for the Beijing Student Science and Technology Festival, the Beijing Middle and Primary School Students’ Astronomy Knowledge Competition aims to promote the improvement of students’ scientific literacy and the development of comprehensive abilities, laying a foundation for students’ future development and better conducting astronomy popularization education. In this year’s competition, our school had 13 students win first prizes, 19 students win second prizes, and 3 students win third prizes.
The National Middle School Earth Science Olympiad (Beijing Division) had over 2500 participants citywide, making it highly competitive. This year marked our school’s second participation in this competition, with 14 students from grades 10 and 11 standing out in the school-level preliminary round to represent the school in the Beijing competition. Ultimately, our school had 1 student win first prize, 2 students win second prizes, and 2 students win third prizes, with Ma Tianyi achieving an excellent 20th place in the city.
Here are some reflections from participating students:
“Unknowingly, astronomical exploration has become the most anticipated part of my daily life. Observing is like unboxing a blind box sent by the universe. At the moment of opening, the light from deep space shines directly into my heart, stunningly beautiful. The astronomy competition is very challenging, but exploring and learning with teachers and teammates feels like finding a way out in the maze of the universe. When I finally reach the ‘exit’ of those questions, I am instantly overwhelmed with immense joy. Astronomy is the foundation of my understanding of this macro world; the more I learn about the universe, the more I am convinced of my love for astronomy, and I will continue to wander in this wonderful world for a long time.”
—— Grade 7, Class 1, Lin Haowei
“As a simple enthusiast of Earth Science, I am very happy to receive the Olympiad award as proof of my level. I never expected to use this competition to assist in my studies; it is purely out of my love for Earth Science. I have come from being a novice in competitions to winning a provincial first prize, thanks to the encouragement and support from teachers who allowed me to delve into this niche subject. Earth Science is an important foundational subject, and its importance is self-evident. Academician Jin Zhijun once expressed concern about the lack of reserve talent in Earth Science during an interview. I am willing to respond to the country’s needs and the voice of youth for humanity’s future, daring to sit on the cold bench, solidly laying a foundation, and preparing to be a top innovative talent in Earth Science.”
—— Grade 11, Class 5, Ma Tianyi
At Capital Normal University Affiliated High School, technology education is solidly implemented through three dimensions: the curriculum system cultivates innovative abilities, science popularization activities stimulate scientific enthusiasm, and competition practices hone professional qualities. From the teaching practice of the Orange Pi development board to the comprehensive rollout of AI general education courses, students master programming thinking and AI applications in real scenarios; the interactive experience of the scientist theme exhibition makes textbook knowledge vivid and tangible, with the participation of over 2000 teachers and students confirming the infectious power of immersive science popularization; while the first place in the aircraft simulation competition in Beijing and multiple selections for the informatics Olympiad team showcase the significant results of systematic technological training.
When Yuan Jiarui develops a smart wheelchair for stroke patients, when Ma Tianyi holds on to his passion in the Earth Science Olympiad, and when Chen Yixuan shines for the school on the NOI stage – what we see is not just medals and honors, but the responsibility of the younger generation to solve real problems with technology. Capital Normal University Affiliated High School will continue to cultivate future creators with both professional abilities and humanistic care through pragmatic and innovative technology education, ensuring that technology truly serves the growth of individuals and the progress of society.
Contributed by | Technology Center
Edited by | Sun Menghua
Reviewed by | Yang Senlin, Fan Guangning
