In a riveting SXSW session, MacKenzie Price, alongside Anna Davlantes, delves into how AI can fundamentally transform the traditional education system. By implementing a 2-hour learning model, Alpha School offers personalized, efficient education, enabling students to explore and excel in their interests beyond the confines of a classroom. This innovative approach is not about replacing teachers but about reimagining their roles as guides who support and inspire students. At the heart of this transformation is the concept of 2hr Learning, a method that promises to double the learning speed, cut down classroom time, and ignite students’ passion for education. 

During the talk. MacKenzie covered some mAIn points:

• AI can fix the broken school system by creating customized learning paths so that each student gets an education that’s tailored to them rather than targeted at the classroom ‘average.’ 
• Kids do not need to be confined to a classroom for 6 hours a day; they can excel at schoolwork in just 2 hours at 2x the speed
• This pace frees up more time in the afternoon for hands-on workshops, interesting hobbies, and pursuing passions that kids love. Academics are challenging, so encouraging kids with the gift of time means that they ‘want’ to do well, not just ‘have’ to.
• By giving kids a real reward, they are motivated to perform better and achieve more. 
• A decade of meticulously gathered data shows that 2hr Learning accelerates mastery by at least 2x, saves kids 4 hours of time, boosts their love for school, and fosters 99th percentile scores. 

She also discussed some incredible topics in a fireside chat led by Emmy-winning Journalist Anna Davlantes:

Q: What motivated you to reimagine education?

A: My daughters. They were girls who loved to learn, who loved school. One day, they came home and said that they were so bored and absolutely hated it all. To see them lose their spark for something they originally loved was heartbreaking, as was realizing that they were not the only ones to go through this. That’s when I knew I had to do something. 

Q: How does 2-hour learning work?

A: We believe kids do not need to study 6 hours to succeed, and we have proof. They only need 2 hours a day to focus on academics to free up their afternoons. Giving them the gift of time, where they are able to explore interests and really learn life skills, makes all their hard work worth it. Why would kids want to excel if there is no reward?  

Q: Is it true that Alpha School has no teachers?

A: Our most asked question to date! It’s true: We do not have teachers. Teachers are overworked and overburdened, and that’s really not helping anyone. We have Alpha Guides who can do what they got into teaching to do in the first place – motivate, support, and guide students to be self-driven learners. Kids can do a lot more if we believe in their abilities, so at Alpha, we do it right. 

Alpha School is flipping the script on education with AI. Say goodbye to the drag of 6-hour school days and hello to mastering subjects in just 2 hours. AI can make learning engaging, exciting, and exceptional. Why stick with the old school when innovation is in the palm of our hands?

Want to watch it for yourself? Head on over here.