Please write more about why you would like to send your kids to Alpha!
I've read all of the "big pieces" and listened to some of the podcasts, but I can't wrap my head around how/when Alpha students are doing the deep thinking and elaborative work that Natalie Wexler wrote about recently. Are the students reading novels? Who are they discussing them with? As far as I can tell (and I may be off-base here), for ELA, they spend a lot of time reading short passages on a screen and answering comprehension questions about them in order to prepare for MAP or SAT testing.
Well, I suspect their model works better for math than ELA. And they do use their afternoon time to help kids pursue a variety of enrichment / non-academic type stuff. Per my comment in the post, I'm not sure my wife would agree, let alone my kids, but I find their focus on rigor and mastery compelling and something I would like for my kids to have.
Not sure you'd willingly send your kids there, Chad, since I know you a little bit.
Look more deeply at the model and how it plays out.
One of the challenges I saw when I went to visit was that the goals of the system are future ready skills but the measures continue to be very traditional standards velocity and standardized test achievement--kids sign a contract about the SAT score) not a lot of 'how might i solve a problem collaboratively'.
Another challenge I saw was the hyper individualism (value was how much money could be made and which elite institution you could get into-- And while one might see those as typical liberal goals, I am thinking pure capitalism. Fuel for the innovation engine is collaboration.
There are some interesting things to look at and learn from at There are other models worth a look. Happy to chat!
Well, I haven't visited... But per my comment in the post, I'm not sure my wife loves their model as much as I do, let alone my kids, but I find their focus on rigor and mastery compelling and something I would like for my kids to have.
I think it would be good for you to visit. Many of the model elements that you like have already existed in personalization models of yesteryore.
If you look at the learning science, and true mastery, learning models don't separate out the development of subject matter expertise from application of skills. We need models that don't treat the development of academic content knowledge as broccoli that needs to be consumed before getting to dessert (the motivating and engaging stuff). Well designed models are interest driven, motivating and engaging models that make the broccoli a delicious component of a meal.
Please write more about why you would like to send your kids to Alpha!
I've read all of the "big pieces" and listened to some of the podcasts, but I can't wrap my head around how/when Alpha students are doing the deep thinking and elaborative work that Natalie Wexler wrote about recently. Are the students reading novels? Who are they discussing them with? As far as I can tell (and I may be off-base here), for ELA, they spend a lot of time reading short passages on a screen and answering comprehension questions about them in order to prepare for MAP or SAT testing.
Well, I suspect their model works better for math than ELA. And they do use their afternoon time to help kids pursue a variety of enrichment / non-academic type stuff. Per my comment in the post, I'm not sure my wife would agree, let alone my kids, but I find their focus on rigor and mastery compelling and something I would like for my kids to have.
Not sure you'd willingly send your kids there, Chad, since I know you a little bit.
Look more deeply at the model and how it plays out.
One of the challenges I saw when I went to visit was that the goals of the system are future ready skills but the measures continue to be very traditional standards velocity and standardized test achievement--kids sign a contract about the SAT score) not a lot of 'how might i solve a problem collaboratively'.
Another challenge I saw was the hyper individualism (value was how much money could be made and which elite institution you could get into-- And while one might see those as typical liberal goals, I am thinking pure capitalism. Fuel for the innovation engine is collaboration.
There are some interesting things to look at and learn from at There are other models worth a look. Happy to chat!
Well, I haven't visited... But per my comment in the post, I'm not sure my wife loves their model as much as I do, let alone my kids, but I find their focus on rigor and mastery compelling and something I would like for my kids to have.
I think it would be good for you to visit. Many of the model elements that you like have already existed in personalization models of yesteryore.
If you look at the learning science, and true mastery, learning models don't separate out the development of subject matter expertise from application of skills. We need models that don't treat the development of academic content knowledge as broccoli that needs to be consumed before getting to dessert (the motivating and engaging stuff). Well designed models are interest driven, motivating and engaging models that make the broccoli a delicious component of a meal.