When I was a student, we learned writing skills via a series of assigned essays and uninspiring writing prompts doled out by teachers who gave me little to no choice in the content and subject matter of my writing (e.g. “Write an essay about the three branches of government,” or…
I first learned about game theory as a sophomore at Princeton while taking Introduction to Microeconomics, surrounded by 300+ students in a dimly lit lecture hall.
Alpha L2 students (fifth and sixth grade) were introduced to game theory last month as they played the popular app-based video game Among Us…
“Students learn life skills” is the third promise that Alpha makes to parents. We believe that students who learn life skills build the confidence to chart their own path through life. Alpha students learn these skills through a project-based curriculum, where they tackle real-life projects both individually and in group…
Education related articles found by Alpha staff that are worth passing along to parents. This list is updated weekly.
Wes Kao — Spiky point of view: Let’s get a little controversial
We live in a noisy world. Whichever industry you’re in, there are thousands of other people like you trying to get noticed. Unless you distinguish yourself, you’ll never get a chance to show how different you actually are. …
In 1984, educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom described a holy grail that schools have been chasing ever since.
According to Bloom, an educational model that uses mastery learning and one-to-one tutoring can substantially improve outcomes in education. Bloom’s paper is titled the “2-sigma problem” because it proposes an improvement in learning…
One of the life skills we teach at Alpha is Focus and Intensity. While a traditional school might reward intelligence by assigning letter grades, we design systems built to reward student effort and progress.
By the time Alpha students reach Level 3 (7th and 8th grade), they’ve developed the ability…
Imagine this — it’s the beginning of the school year and you’re sitting with an ambitious student. This student can’t wait to tackle the new and challenging coursework ahead of them. In one version of the conversation, you tell the student, “You’ll have a great year if you just work…
You can feel the excitement in the building each time MAP testing comes around. Students have been working hard in their apps, and the MAP test is an opportunity for them to show their progress to their parents, their Guides, and — most importantly — themselves.
Alpha MAP Results
As…
Alpha is not a typical school. Because we use adaptive learning apps, every student is able to progress along an individualized pathway at their own speed. Our approach provides a custom learning experience designed to address the unique needs of each student. The admissions process therefore, doesn’t follow the standard…
When the State of Texas required schools to close physical campuses, Alpha moved into “Alpha Anywhere,” a new, remote version of our program. Alpha Anywhere was a real-life test that required students to collectively demonstrate the life skills they’ve learned.
Life skills are one of the three commitments we make…
Alpha
K-12 private school serving students in Austin, Texas. We are a community that believes that success lies in hard work and innovation. www.alpha.school
