3 Quick Bites:

🍎 Why we instinctively know to say "little red ball" (and what it reveals about learning)
🍎 How AI tutors are evolving from sci-fi promise to practical reality
🍎 6 AI learning tools worth exploring

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💡 THOUGHT

RULES WE NEVER LEARNED (BUT WERE NEVER TAUGHT)

Have you ever wondered why it feels more natural to say "little red ball" than "red little ball"? Jason Pargin has the answer:

Think of all the rules we follow without knowing it

— Jason Pargin, author of John Dies at the End, etc (@JasonKPargin)
3:36 PM • Feb 27, 2025

Turns out, we instinctively arrange adjectives in a specific order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose. Yet we rarely notice these linguistic rules until they're broken.

What other patterns might be operating in our minds without our awareness?

More importantly, how much learning happens without us knowing what we're learning at all?

📊 TREND

AI TUTORS: PROMISE OR PREMISE?

Back in 2023, tech investor and Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen made a bold prediction about AI in education:

"Every child will have an AI tutor that is infinitely patient, infinitely compassionate, infinitely knowledgeable, infinitely helpful."

Some would say this vision is already taking shape. One parent on X recently shared that Synthesis Tutor was blowing Khan Academy out of the water for his 5-year-old's math learning:

For home school math, we've done Khan Academy, a variety of workbooks, and tutoring from dad.

Synthesis Tutor is blowing them out of the water. We're on vacation in Florida and 5yo asked if he could do math.

— Jeremy Kauffman 🦔🌲🌕 (@jeremykauffman)
4:47 PM • Feb 24, 2025

Could technology actually respond to your child's unique learning style in ways a standardized curriculum (or even a human being) can't? Might AI handle the repetitive practice while humans focus on inspiration, wisdom, and character development?

QUESTION: Are you open to incorporating AI tutors into your child's learning journey? Or are you skeptical of the "infinite" promises? Reply to this email and let us know what you think!

🔨 TOOL

AI LEARNING COMPANIONS WORTH EXPLORING

If you’re interested in trying out the “state of the art” in AI tutoring, here are some tools you can consider:

Khanmigo - Khan Academy's AI tutor adapts to individual learning styles and provides personalized feedback. It can explain concepts, ask guiding questions, and recognize when a student is stuck.

Duolingo Max - Their AI-powered features help language learners practice conversations without judgment, explain grammar concepts, and provide instant feedback on pronunciation.

Synthesis - Originally created for Elon Musk's Ad Astra school, Synthesis uses AI to create simulation-based learning environments where children develop critical thinking through collaborative problem-solving.

Socratic by Google - Socratic helps students understand difficult concepts by providing step-by-step explanations for questions across a range of subjects.

Osmo - Combines physical play with AI technology to create interactive learning experiences for younger children, especially in areas like math, spelling, and creative problem-solving.

Numerade - An AI-powered STEM learning platform that offers video solutions to textbook problems and creates personalized study paths.

Remember, even the best AI tools are supplements to—not replacements for—human connection. The ideal approach might be finding the right blend of technology and personal interaction that works for your child's unique learning journey.

📖 WORD OF THE DAY

LUDDITE

Luddite (LUD-ite), noun: A person opposed to new technology or ways of working.

Originally, the Luddites were 19th-century English textile workers who destroyed machinery that threatened their jobs. Today, it's what your kids call you when you can't figure out how to unmute yourself on Zoom.

That’s all for today! See you tomorrow.

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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