AI in Schools: 3 Ways AI Parallels the Internet Revolution

Remember the early days of the internet? The nostalgic screeching of dial-up connections, waiting seven hours for a song to download, and the exhilaration from our maiden voyage into the search bar. Pure magic! Now, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the newcomer, ready to take the stage. Its impending transformation in education promises to be as transformative as the internet’s grand entrance.

Back in the 90s, the internet faced initial skepticism and caution. But today, imagining a world without it is more than a little laughable. Similarly, while AI might stir memories of the internet’s tentative beginnings, its trajectory points towards becoming as indispensable as PCs and smartphones. Integrating AI into education could mark the distinction between nurturing our children as visionary trail blazers or watching them lag in the accelerating tech era.

Here are 3 ways AI parallels the internet revolution in schools: 

1. First Encounters with the Future

Recall the thrill of your first internet exploration? We’re at a similar juncture with AI in schools. A panorama of awe, opportunity, and boundless potential. Machine learning tailoring lessons just for me? Sign me up! 

2. The Predictive Path

Here’s a thought: Initial hesitations towards the internet mirrored the initial reactions to almost every groundbreaking invention. History tells us early reservations often evolve into reliance. AI’s current role in education resembles the internet’s early 90s phase. The sky’s the limit. 

3. Revamping the Learning Blueprint

Dreamed of a classroom where teaching molds to each student’s pace and preference? Enter AI. It promises a realm where schools metamorphose into hubs of individualized innovation.

Alpha School is redefining what parents should expect from a private school. If you’re ready to create limitless possibilities in your child’s life, sign up for an Alpha School tour.  

3 Reasons Die-Hard Public School Parents are Choosing Private Schools for their Kids

 

Public education is in absolute turmoil and it’s reaching a dangerous breaking point. The biggest sign? Parents who not only bled public school spirit but firmly declared their children would too, are now fleeing to private institutions. Research shows American public schools witnessed a sharp decline of 1.2 million students in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, private school enrollment in 2021-2022 hit record highs after countless parents made the switch.

Here are three reasons public school parents are choosing private schools: 

Academic Standards

The public education system is failing to uphold academic excellence. A significant factor driving parents to private schools is the catastrophic drop in academic standards. Basic skills such as reading and writing are often overlooked, allowing students to advance with minimal to no academic grounding. The removal of crucial subjects like Algebra from 8th-grade curriculum, and eliminating enriched programs, are seriously hindering students’ chances of future success. After the Covid-19 pandemic national test scores plummeted to record lows, but because of the disastrous state of public schools, many of these students will never fully recover. Reports indicate kids missed 35% of a typical school year’s learning, with nearly half of parents fearing these setbacks could cause permanent damage. Alarmingly, post-Covid era education remains in continued decline. During the 2022-2023 school year, 13-year-olds’ math scores dropped by an average of 9 points, and reading scores fell by 4 points. Even the most ardent public school supporters recognize the potential long-term impact these learning gaps could have on their children’s lives.

Peer-to-Peer Influence and Culture

From relentless fighting and bullying, to the blatant disrespect for teachers, public school parents continue to witness the steady erosion of their children’s learning environment. Peer-to-peer influence and school culture significantly affects students at every academic stage, with data revealing a negative peer group can lead to a 24% drop in academic performance. Private schools often emphasize community, motivation, and a positive learning environment, while public schools are grappling with deteriorating mental health and a concerning anti-academic stance. With 85% of high school students facing peer-pressure, parents are turning to private schools to ensure their kids are learning alongside motivated, disciplined, and like-minded peers.

Individualized Learning

Over the past two decades, public school funding has been drastically cut, leading to larger class sizes, fewer resources, and an almost mechanical approach to education. This system has become increasingly challenging for teachers, with many either leaving the profession or facing daily struggles. To make matters worse, what funding is left doesn’t always go to the educators who need it most. Data shows public school classrooms are often packed to double the capacity of their private counterparts, resulting in a watered-down educational experience that leaves no room for individualized learning. Private schools champion an individual focus on each child’s personal learning needs. 

Alpha School is redefining what parents should expect from K-8 education. If you’re ready to create limitless possibilities in your child’s life, sign up for an Alpha School tour.