Hey {{ first_name | human }},
In this week, we are starting to get some empirical data as to what' ‘AI fluency’ may mean, and a recent Substack has made me think that right now is an incredibly important time to think about different models of schooling.
TL;DR: The 60 Second briefing
⚡️Updated AI Guide: Ethan Mollick has updated his incredibly useful AI guide which helpfully breaks down which model you should be using and why, but it’s getting complicated.
🧪AI Fluency Report: Anthropic has produced a report on what ‘fluent’ use of AI looks like in the context those who attend university.
🚨Lyra: Google has announced a new music creation tool and it’s available to everyone.
📚 AI+education news
📖Rethinking Schooling > What it is: In this blog post, Michael Pershan provides an interesting perspective towards the Alpha school model. His argument is that Alpha school’s promise of freeing up time for character and career development by condensing the academics into two hours is a fundamental change in what schooling is for and should be for. If Alpha wanted to produce pupils who were exceptional in the academics, maybe they could. But they do not want to. It is not the purpose of their model.
Why this matters: For leaders, this is a useful reflection point. How, and the extend that AI adoption may be taken up by schools may come down to what they view the purpose of schooling is. Having clarity on this, could be a powerful guide to navigate the AI landscape.
🧪AI Fluency Report > What it is: Built on the 4D Framework, which categorises AI skills into four core competencies, it is an attempt to define what it means to be truly "fluent" in AI, rather than just knowing how to use it. They identified 11 behaviours that could be monitored
From Anthropic’s AI Fluency Index Report
One of the main findings from the research was that there was a strong relationship between AI fluency and iteration and refinement through longer conversations with Claude. In other words, the more engaged with Claude, the more likely you were to demonstrate AI fluency.
Why this matters: In order to get the benefits of AI, it is important that we use the tools effectively. Just like with reading or handwriting, as we develop greater fluency we can spend more time thinking hard about other aspects of the work that we need to do and consider how, and even if we should, utilise AI.
🌍 Wider AI updates
⚡️Updated AI Guide > What it is: Mollick argues that we are moving past the "Chatbot" phase. In 2026, a school’s AI strategy shouldn't be about one specific app, but about three distinct layers:
The Model (The Brain): Choosing the right level of "intelligence" for the task (e.g., using a high-reasoning model like GPT-5.2 for curriculum design vs. a "Flash" model for emails).
The App (The Interface): Where the work happens (Claude, ChatGPT, or specialised school tools).
The Harness (The Workflow): How the AI connects to your data, your calendar, and your specific school policies. The key for educators is to ensure that this respects data and DfE safety standards.
Why this matters: Generative AI models are being updated at an unprecedented pace (there is a rumour that ChatGPT 5.3 will be released soon). One-off trainings have their uses, but they can also very quickly become out of date as the pace. This guide provides a comprehensive up-to-date look at the industry where it is becoming more complex to decide what to choose.
🚨Lyria 3 > What it is: Google has integrated Lyria 3, its latest music generation model, directly into the Gemini app. It allows users to generate 30-second tracks (including lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation) from text, images, or video prompts. To access it, click the ‘tools’ button in a ‘chat’ and select ‘create music’.
Why it matters: For years, staff have risked copyright strikes or spent hours on "FreePlay Music" sites looking for backing tracks. This tool provides instant, unique, and watermarked audio that fits the exact "vibe" of a school project without legal risk.
Do this next: Create a 30 second class/form chant that you can use to start the day off to help develop a sense of belonging.
🎯Tip: AI Fluency Checklist
Do ti
If you haven't done at least three of these, you haven't finished the task:
Iterate: Did I ask at least two follow-up questions?
Decompose: Did I break the big task into small steps?
Logic-Check: Did I ask the AI to "explain your reasoning"?
Context-Check: Did I provide enough context for it to ‘Till next week.
Mr A 🦾
Help a colleague save time by sharing this newsletter; distributing these ideas helps a friend get home on time and keeps our energy focused on what matters most: great teaching.
Mr A 🦾
