This study suggests our entire conception of human intellectual...
pratham@prathammittal
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Sep 05, 2025
~3 min read
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This study suggests our entire conception of human intellectual potential is artificially constrained.
You're way more intelligent than you know.
Your education just didn't let you find out.
Harvard & Stanford discovered how we can break out of these shackles:
🧵
You're way more intelligent than you know.
Your education just didn't let you find out.
Harvard & Stanford discovered how we can break out of these shackles:
🧵
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1/ In 1984, Benjamin Bloom discovered a method to drastically improve educational efficiency.
An average student under this method could outperform 49 out of 50 students in a traditional class.
That's 2 whole standard deviations - 2 Sigma.
Or jumping from a C to an A grade.
An average student under this method could outperform 49 out of 50 students in a traditional class.
That's 2 whole standard deviations - 2 Sigma.
Or jumping from a C to an A grade.
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2/ The method - 1:1 Tutoring.
Everyone knew tutored students did well. Bloom quantified it.
He found that an AVERAGE tutored student was above 98% of all students in the control class.
Despite having similar aptitudes & previous test scores.
Everyone knew tutored students did well. Bloom quantified it.
He found that an AVERAGE tutored student was above 98% of all students in the control class.
Despite having similar aptitudes & previous test scores.
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3/ We've known this for 40+ years but had no real way to implement it.
The problem was scale. It was impossible to personalise learning for every student tailored to their level.
From my time at UPenn, I realised that top schools adopted the 2nd best method - Mastery Learning.
The problem was scale. It was impossible to personalise learning for every student tailored to their level.
From my time at UPenn, I realised that top schools adopted the 2nd best method - Mastery Learning.
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4/ Mastery Learning is the same as the conventional classroom method with a few additions:
- Immediate Feedback on tests
- Followed by corrective procedures
- Parallel tests to check mastery in a subject
One standard deviation meant jumping from B to an A grade.
- Immediate Feedback on tests
- Followed by corrective procedures
- Parallel tests to check mastery in a subject
One standard deviation meant jumping from B to an A grade.
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5/ Just providing timely feedback can create a huge difference.
But not every school can limit classes to 20-30 students.
And personalised tutoring was limited to the affluent & rich.
The onset of GenAI breaks that impediment.
But not every school can limit classes to 20-30 students.
And personalised tutoring was limited to the affluent & rich.
The onset of GenAI breaks that impediment.
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6/ There's widespread news on the abuse of LLM's to cheat in tests, generate essays, delegate homework, etc.
The problem isn't AI. It's incentives.
Students are incentivised on the wrong things:
- High grades > Learning
- Cramming > Understanding
Education has lost the plot.
The problem isn't AI. It's incentives.
Students are incentivised on the wrong things:
- High grades > Learning
- Cramming > Understanding
Education has lost the plot.
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7/ GenAI helps us pivot from this systemic decay.
Efforts are already being made to check it’s educational applications with rigorous evidence.
A 2025 Harvard study found improved performance in students after just one AI lesson.
Efforts are already being made to check it’s educational applications with rigorous evidence.
A 2025 Harvard study found improved performance in students after just one AI lesson.
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8/ These students also reported higher levels of perceived LEARNING experience across metrics.
2 groups, each studied with:
- Human teacher in Class
- AI tutor at home.
They preferred AI. And outperformed the others on test scores.
2 groups, each studied with:
- Human teacher in Class
- AI tutor at home.
They preferred AI. And outperformed the others on test scores.
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9/ Another recent Stanford study showed that AI can ASSIST human tutors instead of entirely replacing them.
The 'Tutor CoPilot' was able to increase tutors’ capacity to support learning with guided questions.
This can be the first step in re-structuring existing schools.
The 'Tutor CoPilot' was able to increase tutors’ capacity to support learning with guided questions.
This can be the first step in re-structuring existing schools.
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10/ The Human element is still critical.
Teachers can provide authentic human connection & emotional intelligence.
While AI can simulate empathy, it lacks genuine understanding of student emotions, personal circumstances, and motivational needs.
But it's improving. Fast.
Teachers can provide authentic human connection & emotional intelligence.
While AI can simulate empathy, it lacks genuine understanding of student emotions, personal circumstances, and motivational needs.
But it's improving. Fast.
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11/ This is why a well designed system matters most.
We've reached a point of sophistication in technology that enables us to customise & create authentic, learning-focused models.
Concerted effort in creating pedagogy, curriculums & infrastructure in this direction is key.
We've reached a point of sophistication in technology that enables us to customise & create authentic, learning-focused models.
Concerted effort in creating pedagogy, curriculums & infrastructure in this direction is key.
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12/ In order to be successful, education HAS to be personalised.
AI Tutors can unleash the potential of everyone that can be reached.
At scale.
If done well, it might just be the greatest contribution to humanity's advancement.
It's the 2 Sigma Solution.
AI Tutors can unleash the potential of everyone that can be reached.
At scale.
If done well, it might just be the greatest contribution to humanity's advancement.
It's the 2 Sigma Solution.
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1. Follow me @prathammittal for more
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1. Follow me @prathammittal for more
2. RT the linked tweet & spread the word
pratham@prathammittal
This study suggests our entire conception of human intellectual potential is artificially constrained.
You're way more intelligent than you know.
Your education just didn't let you find out.
Harvard & Stanford discovered how we can break out of these shackles:
🧵
You're way more intelligent than you know.
Your education just didn't let you find out.
Harvard & Stanford discovered how we can break out of these shackles:
🧵