What changed this week
for AI at home and at school
Hey Big Thinker. At Alpha School, students spend about two hours a day on core academics, with AI building lessons around what each kid already knows. The rest of the day goes to workshops and projects. On the a16z podcast, principal Joe Liemandt argued that the extra time is the whole point.
You don't need to switch schools to borrow the idea, whether you're a parent, teacher or school leader. Below: what he said, three moves to make this week, and a 20-minute game kids design with AI.
IN THIS ISSUE
01 News: a school that trades practice time for projects
02 Practical tips: three moves for families and schools
03 Activity: create your own video game
NEWS
An AI-powered school says the extra time is the point
WHAT HAPPENED
On October 27, the a16z podcast sat down with Joe Liemandt, principal of Alpha School, alongside host Erik Torenberg and Gagan Biyani. At Alpha, AI-powered lessons cover core academics in about two hours a day, and the rest of the day goes to workshops, real-world projects and coaching.
WHY IT MATTERS
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Liemandt's argument: if AI helps kids learn faster, don't pile on more academics. Use the time for skills classrooms struggle to teach, like agency, teamwork and communication. His most useful line for families and schools: the question for kids isn't which job is safe from AI, it's what they care enough to build. One caveat: Alpha is a private school and its results are self-reported, so treat its numbers with curiosity rather than certainty. The idea worth borrowing is free.
Sources: a16z podcast · Alpha School
THOUGHTS FROM THE EXPERTS
Most families won't switch schools, and they don't need to. The useful part of Alpha's model is the trade: let AI handle practice, then protect real time for projects kids own. That's a choice any home or classroom can make this week.
— Justin & Will
PRACTICAL TIPS
Three moves to make this week
For parents, teachers and school leaders. Small ways to trade practice time for project time.
01
Ask kids what they'd build with extra time
Listen for a real interest, not the "right" answer. Teachers can open a class with the same question. Try: "If school only took two hours a day, what would you spend the rest of the day building?"
02
Talk to a teacher about practice time
Parents can ask at pickup or in a short email. School leaders can ask their teams where practice eats the most time. Try: "Where could AI handle practice so students get more time for projects?"
03
Protect one project hour this week
Block one hour, at home or in class, for a project the kid chose. No grades, no checklist. Try: "This hour is yours. What do you want to make?"
ACTIVITY
Create your own video game
AGES 11–14 20 MIN YOU NEED: AN AI CHAT TOOL
Kids design a simple game with AI as their brainstorming partner, then play-test it right in the chat. They'll practice three AI skills: getting it to ask questions, rejecting ideas that aren't theirs, and testing what they built.
HOW TO DO IT
1
Pitch it (5 min). Type: "I'm designing a video game about [ocean explorers]. Don't design it for me. Ask me three questions about the world, the hero and how you win."
2
Write the rules (10 min). Type: "Help me write my game's rules in five short lines, using my ideas. Then suggest two twists." Keep one twist, reject one, and tell the AI why.
3
Play-test it (5 min). Type: "Run my game as a text adventure. Describe the first scene and let me choose what to do." Spot one thing that's broken or boring and fix the rule. In the classroom: pairs swap games and play each other's.
TALK ABOUT IT
Which ideas were yours, and which came from AI? What did you change after play-testing?
POLL
If AI cut practice time in half, how should schools use the extra time?
Tap an answer to vote. We'll share the results next week.
READ MORE
Go deeper
Big Thinkers · The full archive. Each issue has a news story, tips and an activity you can still use.
BigThinkers · The creative studio where kids 11 to 14 build real projects with AI.
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