Latest news with #personalizedlearning
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Elite Academic Academy & All Access with Andy Garcia: Redefining Education for a Digital Generation
LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --- Discover how Elite Academic Academy is revolutionizing education by empowering educators, partnering with parents, and personalizing every student's journey in an upcoming segment of "All Access with Andy Garcia." Viewers of Public Television will explore the innovative approaches of Elite Academic Academy, a non-profit, public charter school in California, where learning is meticulously tailored to fit each student's unique needs, pace, and passions. Set to film later this year, this engaging segment will showcase how Elite is raising the bar in education through its dynamic and flexible learning pathways, integration of cutting-edge technology, and unwavering commitment to fostering comprehensive student success. The program will highlight Elite's three distinct academies: the collaborative Homeschool Academy, the adaptable Flex Academy, and the fully immersive Virtual Academy - each designed to meet the diverse and evolving needs of today's learners and their families. "At Elite Academic Academy, we're working to create the future of learning. From our Elite X Fellowship to our immersive VR and XR learning experiences, we're giving students access to tools that were once unimaginable in public education, with our highly qualified, credentialed teachers designing and implementing the latest innovations. What makes us truly different is how we put families at the center, together creating personalized journeys where student passion drives academic purpose. This is more than school. It's a movement toward a new kind of education—flexible, future-ready, and powered by human connection." — Meghan Freeman, CEO, Elite Academic Academy The segment will delve into Elite Academic Academy's key innovations that are reshaping the K-12 educational landscape: Elite X Fellowship: A groundbreaking and immersive professional development program designed to empower educators to skillfully harness the transformative potential of the latest technologies and redefine teaching and learning in our rapidly evolving digital age. Immersive VR/XR Experiences: An exciting partnership with Illuminate XR (IXR) that strategically leverages the power of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence to craft truly immersive and engaging learning experiences for students, including interactive 3D science laboratories and captivating virtual explorations of historical landmarks. Career Technical Education (CTE): Professional, industry-aligned pathways designed to provide students with invaluable hands-on skills, practical experience, and access to high-demand and future-forward fields, such as Digital/Social Media Marketing, Game Design and Animation, Esports, Hospitality, Medical Administration, and Music Production. SOAR Advanced Academics: A specialized and enriching program designed for advanced and gifted learners that offers opportunities for dual enrollment in college courses and intensive studies in AI, creative arts, entrepreneurship, and other specialized areas. Peak Performance Athletics: An innovative, hybrid educational model that balances the demanding schedules of elite athletic benchmark testing & training, mental performance coaching, and the rigorous NCAAaligned academic pursuits necessary for comprehensive student development. The Science of Hope & Mattering: Designed to meet the needs of the "Anxious Generation", a human-centered, social-emotional learning framework to help cultivate a strong sense of individual identity, personal purpose, and meaningful belonging within each student. Elite Academic Academy isn't just responding to the future of education but boldly redefining it. Through a dynamic, non-classroom-based independent study model, Elite is preparing students for the limitless possibilities of tomorrow's careers. By fusing innovation, personalized learning, and authentic human connection, Elite is transforming education by proving that when education breaks traditional boundaries, student success has no limits. About All Access with Andy Garcia "All Access with Andy Garcia" is a Public Television program that offers viewers insightful stories about innovative companies and their impact on various industries. Hosted by the acclaimed actor Andy Garcia, the program aims to inspire and educate audiences about the ingenuity and dedication behind American businesses. Learn more at: About Elite Academic Academy Elite Academic Academy is a pioneering educational institution that empowers teachers to lead change, partners with parents to personalize learning, and uses cutting-edge tools to prepare students for life beyond school. With a focus on flexibility, innovation, and purpose, Elite is redefining what education can be. Learn more at: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE All Access


South China Morning Post
30-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Write to Win (Round 4): What do you think schools will be like in 50 years?
Read the responses to this week's Write to Win prompt, and choose the answer you like most on this form. Hong Kong: I think in 50 years, artificial intelligence (AI) will play a huge role in the education system. As AI teachers and learning assistants have become more common today, I envision in 50 years, AI systems will provide personalised and adaptive learning for students with different learning styles, catering to neurodivergent students as well. Furthermore, I can see AI grading our assessments and homework, freeing up teachers' schedules and allowing them to spend more time with students and emotionally connect with them. Lastly, I also believe that schools will include more life-related education, such as woodwork, cooking and finance management, helping to refine and develop skills that will stick with students for the rest of their lives. London: Hong Kong's sea level is likely to rise in 50 years due to glaciers melting. It would be unsurprising if the total area of the sea surface exceeds the total area of the land surface. Therefore, underwater schools could help conserve land area. These types of schools immersed in water could provide a quiet and calm learning environment for students. Acrylic underwater windows installed on ceilings would allow natural light to enter, saving electricity and providing students with stunning scenery to relieve stress. Additionally, underwater schools might give students a deeper understanding of nature, teaching them the importance of protecting marine life. Write to Win (Round 3): What isn't a subject in school that you think should be? Sydney: Schools will be powered by advanced artificial intelligence that adapts to each student's learning style. Classrooms may exist in virtual or augmented reality, turning history, science and art into immersive experiences. Traditional exams will be replaced by real-world projects and digital portfolios. Students will learn empathy, climate awareness and financial literacy. Learning will be curiosity-driven, collaborative and personalised – connecting students worldwide and preparing us for an innovative and inclusive future. Berlin: Schools will be unrecognisable in comparison to what they are today. Buildings will be large and pretty, with a technological appearance, and there will be a magical back garden with a dozen types of flowers and a stream that runs through the blooms. Traditional classrooms will be replaced by rooms filled with technology, where blackboards are substituted by huge screens. Artificial intelligence is our teacher, transforming into famous scientists, mathematicians, philosophers and writers from history as well as professors from countries far away. There are no longer any tests or examinations because a machine will be able to read students' minds and see how much knowledge they have and remember. Write to Win (Round 2): Describe your dream bedroom Seoul: I think due to the development of artificial intelligence and technology, soon, instead of human teachers, robots will teach us. We might not even have school buildings. Instead, we will have to buy virtual reality goggles and attend school in that realm. The design and facilities of schools will also be much more advanced. Everyone will use tablets to take notes and exams. Maybe there will be a teleporter to transport our books from home to school, if we physically attend school. In tuck shops, there will be ice cream, ramen and other yummy treats. Students will get to order meals online, which is a lot more convenient. Wouldn't that be cool?


Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Public Microschooling Gains Popularity And Support
As microschools and similarly personalized educational models spread quickly across the U.S., visionary educators working within traditional public schools are taking notice. These 'intrapraneurs' are embracing the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that is fueling the growth of new schools and learning spaces in the private sector, and they are bringing that enterprising attitude to their own schools and school districts. George Philhower is one of them. As Superintendent of the Eastern Hancock public school district in rural Charlottesville, Indiana, Philhower first heard about microschooling during the Covid pandemic, and saw the growing appeal of these smaller, more flexible learning communities that tailor curriculum and instruction to each child's individual needs. He began to wonder if there was a way to bring the microschooling model into the public school system. 'I've spent my entire career trying to figure out how to create school experiences that kids actually love—places where they feel seen, safe, challenged and inspired,' said Philhower, who started out as a public school special education teacher more than two decades ago. 'Over time, I've become convinced that to truly achieve that, we need a level of personalization that's hard to accomplish within traditional school structures. That's where the microschool model comes in.' Two years of conversations and planning culminated in the creation of the Indiana Microschooling Collaborative (IMC), a nonprofit organization that gained approval earlier this month from the Indiana Charter School Board to operate the state's first network of public charter-microschools. Like all charter schools, these IMC schools will be tuition-free public schools, with the first location set to open within the Eastern Hancock school district this fall. The goal is for these IMC microschools to eventually expand statewide. Philhower is leading the IMC network and overseeing the launch of the new microschools, while continuing in his role as Eastern Hancock Superintendent. This collaboration is intentional. Philhower says that the IMC network and the school district are fully aligned in their enthusiasm for the microschooling model and are eager to work together to innovate public schooling from within. 'If we want to create schools where every kid wakes up excited to attend, it's going to take both transforming existing systems and building new ones that can serve as models,' said Philhower. 'Personally, I also want to break down the walls that separate different types of schools.' Indiana has been a pioneer in expanding education options. In addition to charter schools and intra-district and cross-district 'open enrollment' options that enable students to choose a different public school, Indiana is among the 16 states that have introduced universal private school-choice programs in the past few years. These programs enable all school-age children to be eligible to use a portion of education funding for private educational options, including microschools. Philhower believes it is good for families to have options when it comes to a child's education. Currently, 40 percent of the 1,200 students in his Eastern Hancock school district are choosing to attend from other districts. That's an incentive for Philhower and his colleagues at both Eastern Hancock and IMC to continue to innovate, as they compete with a growing assortment of public and private educational choices. 'IMC is designed to offer a free, public option for families who might otherwise choose homeschooling or leave the public system altogether, while still wanting support, structure and a clear path to a diploma,' he said. Microschools and various homeschooling collaboratives are often able to respond quickly and creatively to the needs and preferences of parents and students, which is why their popularity has grown in both Indiana and across the country. Jill Haskins, a former public school teacher turned Indiana homeschooling mom and microschool founder, has seen this growth first-hand. She created the Indiana Microschool Network to support microschool founders and families, and also works closely with the National Microschooling Center on outreach efforts in Indiana and beyond. In 2023, Haskins knew of only 6 microschools in Indiana. Today, she says there are over 130 microschools in the state, with new ones regularly opening. This microschooling momentum creates an opportunity for education 'intrapraneurs' working within the traditional public school system to emulate the innovations occurring around them to attract and retain families. New resources, such as the Public Microschool Handbook, aim to help public school educators to launch and lead new microschools within their school systems. Published this month by Transcend Education, the Getting Smart Collective and Learner-Centered Collaborative, the Handbook is a comprehensive guide for public microschool leaders, offering tips and action items for each stage of the launch process. My new book on the proliferation of innovative K-12 learning models also has a chapter dedicated to these "intrapreneurs" and the steps they can take to make change internally. Educators within and outside of the traditional public school system are recognizing the rising demand for smaller, more personalized, more learner-centered educational models like microschools. In Indiana, Haskins is thrilled that a new charter-microschool network is emerging alongside the state's robust independent microschooling sector. 'I believe that microschooling, in general, is a really great option for families and what better way to create systemic change in the public schools than by having public schools open microschools,' she said, adding that she hopes the rise of public microschooling won't compromise the originality and autonomy of private microschools. 'My one concern about public microschools is that the Indiana Department of Education is going to assume that the public sector is exactly like the private sector and the implications of that could be stifling for the private microschools. Our approaches are very different.'


Geeky Gadgets
24-05-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
AI Meets Education: Discover the Power of Google LearnLM
What if learning could adapt to you—your pace, your interests, your challenges—like a personal tutor who knows exactly what you need? Enter Google LearnLM, an AI-powered platform that's reshaping the way we approach education. By combining innovative artificial intelligence with proven teaching methodologies, LearnLM offers an experience that's as personalized as it is powerful. Imagine a system that not only breaks down complex ideas into manageable insights but also adjusts in real time to your progress, making sure you stay engaged and motivated. Whether you're a student tackling advanced calculus, a teacher crafting lesson plans, or a lifelong learner exploring a new passion, LearnLM promises to make education more accessible, dynamic, and effective than ever before. In this breakdown, we'll explore how Google LearnLM uses AI to transform education, from its seamless integration with Google's Gemini models to its ability to foster curiosity and creativity. You'll discover how this platform adapts to diverse learning styles, simplifies resource creation for educators, and inspires self-directed exploration. But LearnLM isn't just about efficiency—it's about creating meaningful, immersive learning experiences that connect you to knowledge in ways traditional methods can't. As we unpack its features, applications, and potential, you'll see how LearnLM is not just a tool but a fantastic step toward a future where education is truly tailored to the individual. What might it mean for you to learn on your own terms? Transforming Education with AI The AI Framework Behind LearnLM At its foundation, LearnLM operates on a robust AI-driven framework carefully designed to align with core educational principles. These principles include managing cognitive load, making sure content accuracy, and adhering to clear instructional guidelines. The system's fine-tuned AI models enable it to provide precise, context-aware responses tailored to individual needs. For students, this means breaking down complex topics into digestible insights, making challenging subjects more approachable. For educators, it simplifies lesson planning and resource creation, saving time and effort. LearnLM dynamically adapts to the user's progress, making sure that the learning process remains both effective and engaging. By using AI, it bridges gaps in understanding and promotes a deeper connection to the material. Integration with Google's Gemini Models LearnLM's integration with Google's Gemini models enhances its capabilities, introducing advanced features that cater to diverse learning styles. This collaboration enables personalized quizzes, adaptive learning prompts, and multimodal tools that adjust to your unique preferences and pace. If you encounter difficulties with a concept, the system offers alternative explanations, visual aids, or step-by-step guidance to clarify the material. If you excel in a particular area, it provides more challenging content to keep you engaged and motivated. This adaptability ensures that learning remains accessible and effective for individuals at all levels. By tailoring content to your needs, LearnLM creates a customized educational journey that fosters both confidence and competence. Google I/O 2025 : LearnLM Watch this video on YouTube. Here is a selection of other guides from our extensive library of content you may find of interest on AI-driven learning. Practical Applications Across Educational Settings LearnLM's versatility makes it a valuable tool in various educational contexts, offering benefits for students, teachers, and lifelong learners alike. Its real-world applications include: For Students: LearnLM meets you at your level, offering resources that align with your pace and preferences. This personalized approach supports active learning, builds confidence, and encourages mastery of subjects. LearnLM meets you at your level, offering resources that align with your pace and preferences. This personalized approach supports active learning, builds confidence, and encourages mastery of subjects. For Educators: The platform streamlines the creation of customized lesson plans, assessments, and instructional materials, freeing up time for meaningful interactions with students. It also provides insights into student progress, allowing targeted interventions. The platform streamlines the creation of customized lesson plans, assessments, and instructional materials, freeing up time for meaningful interactions with students. It also provides insights into student progress, allowing targeted interventions. For Lifelong Learners: LearnLM inspires curiosity-driven exploration, encouraging you to delve into topics beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Whether you're exploring a new hobby or deepening your expertise, the platform adapts to your interests. By addressing the unique needs of each user, LearnLM enhances the educational experience, making it more inclusive and impactful. Fostering Curiosity and Creativity A standout feature of LearnLM is its ability to spark curiosity and creativity. By incorporating multimodal tools such as visual aids, interactive simulations, and conversational interfaces, it engages multiple senses to enhance understanding and retention. For instance, tools like Google Lens allow you to explore niche interests in real time. Imagine identifying a historical artifact or a plant species and instantly accessing detailed educational content about its origins, significance, or ecosystem. This immersive approach not only deepens your understanding but also makes learning enjoyable and interactive. LearnLM's emphasis on creativity extends to problem-solving and critical thinking. By presenting real-world scenarios and encouraging innovative solutions, it prepares learners to tackle challenges with confidence and ingenuity. Human-AI Collaboration in Education While LearnLM offers advanced capabilities, it is designed to complement, not replace, human educators. Teachers, parents, and peers remain integral to the learning process, providing emotional support, mentorship, and social interaction that AI cannot replicate. The platform enhances the efforts of educators by automating routine tasks such as grading, content delivery, and progress tracking. This allows teachers to focus on fostering critical thinking, creativity, and interpersonal skills—areas where human interaction is indispensable. By working alongside educators, LearnLM creates a balanced approach that combines the efficiency of AI with the empathy and insight of human guidance. The Future of AI-Driven Education The potential for AI in education is vast, and LearnLM is at the forefront of this evolution. Its multimodal capabilities pave the way for interactive and immersive learning experiences that go beyond traditional methods. For example, conversational AI can simulate real-world scenarios, allowing you to practice language skills, collaborate on complex problems, or explore cultural nuances in a dynamic and engaging way. As AI technology continues to advance, tools like LearnLM will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education. By making learning more accessible, engaging, and effective, these innovations empower individuals to reach their full potential. Whether you're a student seeking clarity, a teacher looking for innovative tools, or a lifelong learner exploring new interests, LearnLM offers a fantastic approach to education that inspires growth and discovery. Media Credit: Teacher's Tech Filed Under: Technology News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.

CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Duolingo's CEO says AI will soon replace teachers. But ... should it?
Social Sharing Will AI soon teach a generation of kids to read, do long division, and that cooties aren't real, but germs are, so to stop wiping boogers under their desks? Luis von Ahn, founder and CEO of language-learning app Duolingo, seems to think so. Von Ahn has been stirring up a lot of controversy recently with his company's new AI-first strategy. Now, he's facing backlash over statements he made on the No Priors podcast earlier this month suggesting that AI is a better teacher than humans due to its ability to personalize learning. He added that we'll likely soon see AI take over teachers in classrooms — maybe even in the next few years. "Ultimately, I'm not sure that there's anything computers can't really teach you," von Ahn said on the May 8 episode of the podcast. "I think you'll just see a lot better learning outcomes, in general," he added, while explaining that "it's just a lot more scalable to teach with AI than with teachers." Von Ahn's comments come not long after Duolingo announced it was replacing its contract employees with AI, part of its AI-first strategy that includes using generative AI to build and launch 148 new courses. The company's announcements have not gone down well with many of the app's users, who have flooded Duolingo's social media accounts with comments decrying the decision or claiming to delete the app. Over the weekend, amid the backlash, Duolingo deleted all of its posts on Instagram and TikTok, where it had garnered millions of followers. On Tuesday, the company posted a video on both platforms where someone in an owl mask with three eyes rants about how "everything came crashing down with one single post about AI." And around the same time as all this, the media picked up on von Ahn's earlier interview on No Priors, where he clarified that teachers and schools still have a role to play: childcare. "That doesn't mean the teachers are going to go away, you still need people to take care of the students," he said. WATCH | Please don't rely on AI for safety information, says B.C. organization: B.C.'s outdoor safety organizations warn hikers not to rely on AI for information 1 day ago Duration 2:02 A marketing statement? Matthew Guzdial, an assistant computing science professor at the University of Alberta, says it's important to reframe von Ahn's claims as a marketing statement for Duolingo, and not an informed opinion on education. "He's wanting to project strength and project that this is the way his company is doing it; this is the way everyone will be doing it going forward," Guzdial told CBC News. For instance, Duolingo's website links to several peer-reviewed studies on the app's efficacy, including its use of generative AI, funded by the company. But a 2021 meta-analysis of some of its earlier studies, published in the journal Computer Assisted Language Learning, found that "although most studies report a positive impact of Duolingo on various language competencies, the accuracy of their results is rather debatable." Most of the sample sizes in the studies that assessed achievement, for instance, ranged from one to 44. And most failed to consider potential confounding variables, such as motivation and demographics such as gender and ethnicity, the authors noted. "In other words, eight years after the start of research on Duolingo, we still have very little conclusive evidence about its effectiveness and role in the language learning process," the study concluded. And while one of the Duolingo-funded studies from 2025 did purport to show that self-efficacy increased in language-learning when subjects used AI features of the app, the authors also noted there was no control group, and that all six of the authors were employed by the company. WATCH | AI guidelines in the classroom: AI guidelines created for Halifax-area classrooms 20 days ago Duration 1:50 Is AI a better teacher? While AI can and has been used very effectively in education, Guzdial says there's no evidence that it can teach people better than a human can. "There's basically no support for that claim," he said. It depends on the type of AI, but if, for instance, a person is using a large language model like ChatGPT to look up answers to queries, no actual learning or internalization has happened, Guzdial said. The point of learning is not just to find the answers, but to understand them and build that mental muscle, he added. "If you go to the gym to lift weights, it wouldn't be helpful if you brought a bulldozer to lift the weights for you. And that's sort of what ChatGPT is," he said. Multiple studies and case studies have highlighted specific, positive uses of AI in learning — such as in generating teaching videos, helping clarify explanations, and predicting final grades to identify students who need additional support. But, as an expansive 2023 literature review points out, AI can enhance learning, but can't fully replace human judgment and expertise. In addition, a 2024 study found no direct effect between a student's AI usage and reported grade average, but did find an indirect effect that those students who said they were more socially supported by humans than AI had higher grade performance. Even ChatGPT acknowledges its own shortcomings. When CBC News posed it the question, "Is AI a better teacher than human teachers?" the chatbot answered that AI is better used in addition to teachers, and not as a replacement. "AI can enhance teaching by taking over routine tasks, offering targeted support, and freeing up human educators to focus on what they do best—inspiring, mentoring, and connecting with students," the model said. AI taking over jobs In his comments on the No Priors podcast, von Ahn argued that a computer can give individualized attention to each student in a class, whereas a teacher can't. "And really, the computer can actually … have very precise knowledge about what you, what this one student is good at and bad at," he said. Duolingo's CFO Matt Skaruppa made similar comments last year, telling Morning Brew's After Earnings podcast that it's using AI to make its app as "effective as a human tutor." "AI helps us replicate what a good teacher does. A good teacher helps you learn material, stay engaged, know where your weaknesses are, where your gaps are, so that you can focus on those things and get better," he said. Von Ahn's comments come amid a new report that jobs traditionally done by women are more vulnerable to the impact of artificial intelligence than those done by men, especially in high-income countries. Teaching is an increasingly female-dominated profession. Meanwhile, a compelling argument against AI replacing journalists unfolded this week as the Chicago Sun-Times was roasted for printing a syndicated summer reading list where most of the books didn't actually exist. The list was generated by a freelancer who used AI.