A-Level Mathematics Curriculum Design for Cultivating Top Innovators

The cultivation of top innovators through curriculum reform in high schools is a topic of great interest. The A-Level Center of Beijing RCF Experimental School has embarked on an innovative approach by establishing experimental groups and integrating multiple A-level courses. This article focuses on curriculum integration and presents the concepts, principles, steps, and insights regarding the curriculum design of A-level courses for cultivating top innovators. The steps involved include 1) Establishing curriculum integration goals based on the requirements of A-level courses and the mathematics entrance examinations of Oxford University and the University of Cambridge, 2) Investigating the student profile, including academic performance, motivation, learning needs, and preferences, 3) Systematically organizing course content by creating three “arteries” (pure math, mechanics, and statistics) that connect nine main “hubs” (nine A-Level courses) and 62 points of interest (62 important topics), and 4) Implementing classroom activities such as presentations and discussions to enhance the understanding. Additionally, this article proposes future development directions, including further exploration of the value of curriculum in fostering individuals, research on the integration of various curriculum forms, promoting collaboration with the school counselor's office, and conducting systematic investigations into the mechanisms of cultivating top innovators.