Summer 2022 High School science course update

Hi everyone!

In Summer 2021, we published five new high school science courses: 

• High school biology – NGSS 
• High school physics – NGSS
• AP/College Physics 1 
• AP/College Environmental Science 
• AP/College Chemistry

We're not finished with them quite yet! Over the 2022-2023 school year, we'll be making some updates in response to feedback we've received from our teachers and learners.

Some background: our AP courses are aligned to the most recent test specifications, and our biology and physics courses are aligned to NGSS.    

What's NGSS?

Our newer non-AP courses (as well as our new middle school science courses) are designed as a strategic classroom supplement to support the latest standards: the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). 

A set of research-based, up-to-date K–12 science standards, the NGSS were developed around the principle that there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science: disciplinary core ideas (DCI), practices (application of core ideas to real world contexts), and cross-cutting concepts (like patterns, cause and effect, and structure and function). 

Khan Academy's NGSS courses have been designed to support the DCI dimension of the standards. More info about how the NGSS were developed.

How should I use the NGSS courses?

Our HS Biology and Physics (NGSS) courses were built as a supplement for NGSS classrooms. They are not intended to be used as standalone resources.   

• Size of the courses: We've included enough content to be completed to proficiency in one school year if used as a supplement one period (~45 mins) weekly.  
• Implementation suggestion: Assign for pre-work/warm-up or gap-filling to inform your in-class investigations/projects.  

What's next? 

Over the next 1-2 years, we'll be combining our older high school Biology and Physics courses with their newer NGSS counterparts into standalone courses that meet as many of our users' needs as possible while covering as many standards as possible. 

What about non-AP High School Chemistry, you may ask? Yes, we're planning to publish a new High School Chemistry course next summer. 

We’re eager to hear your feedback, so please let us know what you think via this short and sweet feedback form.

Happy Learning!

Dave - US Content Team