Alpha, a private school located in Austin, Texas, has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) to teach its students core subjects. Founded in 2014, Alpha serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade and is now pioneering a novel approach by using AI instead of traditional teachers.
At Alpha, the traditional role of educators has been transformed. According to MacKenzie Price, the school’s co-founder, teachers are now referred to as “guides.” These guides engage with students as coaches, helping them clarify their academic goals and navigate their learning journeys. “We don’t have teachers,” Price told Austin’s KVUE news station. “Now, what we do have is a lot of adults who are in the room engaging with these kids, working as coaches.”
This shift allows the school to focus on providing personalized education tailored to each student’s pace and level. The AI applications deliver educational content in a manner that adapts to individual learning needs, ensuring that students receive the appropriate level and pace of instruction.
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For the first two hours of each school day, Alpha students across all grade levels interact with the AI-based tutoring system. This system covers core subjects such as math, science, and language arts. The remaining six hours are dedicated to learning life skills, including public speaking, robotics, and other practical skills, guided by their coaches.
Price emphasized the efficiency of this system, noting that it condenses what would typically be six hours of core subject learning into just two hours. “In a normal classroom, you know, kids move on after a certain amount of time, no matter if they’ve mastered or not,” Price explained. “With our system, if a student is struggling with a lesson, the AI will review the material to ensure mastery.”
The innovative approach has garnered positive feedback from students. Byron, a 5th grader at Alpha, shared his thoughts with KVUE. “It explains a detailed explanation of why the correct answer is correct, not just saying, ‘Oh, here’s your correct answer,'” Byron said. “It’ll say, ‘You can answer the question this way next time.'”
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This personalized feedback mechanism allows students to understand their mistakes and learn from them, promoting a deeper comprehension of the subject matter.
Alpha is not the only school in Texas exploring the benefits of AI in education. Over the summer, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in North Texas introduced a week-long program where middle and high school students learned the basics of AI. In the Houston area, Fort Bend ISD has also adopted AI technology, enabling teachers to use ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, to detect cheating. This tool is now accessible on staff computers, highlighting a broader acceptance and implementation of AI in educational settings across the state.
The integration of AI in education, as demonstrated by Alpha, represents a significant shift in how educational content is delivered and absorbed. This approach not only tailors learning to individual needs but also frees up time for students to engage in practical life skills training.
Moreover, the use of AI in schools can potentially bridge gaps in education, offering personalized assistance to students who may struggle in traditional classroom settings. The successful implementation at Alpha could serve as a model for other schools looking to innovate and improve their educational methods.
