7 Comments
User's avatar
Mike Burkhard's avatar

Brilliant, common sense explanations of the possibilities in education. It took decades to institute the current education approach. Let's wish for this fresh, new approach within the next few years!

Expand full comment
Jonathon Stewart's avatar

I particularly love how this post frames the discussion with the example of the Vienna midwives––sometimes it really is a simple and (in retrospect) obvious change in process that makes a massive difference in outcome. "AI" as a broad concept has become a sort of boogyman in the zeitgeist for many people, but if we think about it in terms of being a tool or technological means for opening up opportunities that previously have been inaccessible, it starts to feel a little less scary. I can practically hear the ghostly echos of Austrian midwives, "Why would I waste time washing my hands when there are babies to be delivered?!" ;)

Expand full comment
AJ Stich's avatar

Mackenzie - The work you're doing at Alpha is remarkable. I'm a big fan.

Curious - I'm trying to do this at my school. I'm the principal of The Greater Dayton School, a private school for students from low-income backgrounds in Dayton, Ohio.

The problem I'm running into is the terms of use for AI. Most generative AI I've looked into is 13+ or 18+. I'm trying to find a generative AI that is age appropriate and guides students to the answers vs. giving them the answers.

If you could share any wisdom you have in this matter, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Expand full comment
MacKenzie Price's avatar

Thank you! We use adaptive apps (like IXL) and then our DASH makes sure students are learning with the apps efficiently and effectively.

Expand full comment
Dissident Teacher's avatar

Just one teensy eensy question: how do you control what’s on the LLM? How does a parent know what it’s feeding his kid?

Expand full comment
MacKenzie Price's avatar

We use K-8 Common Core curriculum!

Expand full comment
Dissident Teacher's avatar

That’s not a thing. Common core is a set of standards. You can’t teach off that unless the llm uses it as guidance to locate relevant material for the student.

Expand full comment