Is your student struggling enough?

The Alexa alarm in our kitchen rang - a friendly reminder that my daughter’s class was in 30 minutes, followed by another one 15 minutes later.
Just moments earlier, I had been talking with Ayesha, our CTO, about how we could help our students at Flintolabs build critical thinking skills - how to stay curious, how to unblock themselves when they hit roadblocks. We agreed this ability to navigate ambiguity is one of the most valuable skills today, yet one that schools rarely nurture.

The numbers still echo in my head: two-thirds of students are disengaged by grade 12, and only 46% of college graduates feel prepared for the workforce.

As I dismissed the alarm, it hit me - I might be part of the problem.
Was I creating a world for my daughter where she never had to think ahead or plan her own day? Was my well-meaning reliance on technology quietly replacing her own thought process before it even began? Are we the generation of loving parents trying to smooth every bump, unintentionally robbing kids of the small daily frictions that build independence and confidence.

After two decades in tech, I’ve seen both kinds of people - those who ask, research, and experiment their way out of obstacles, and those who freeze the moment the manual changes. The difference? Not intelligence. It’s resourcefulness.

And the only way to build that muscle is to struggle a little, to face uncertainty, find your way through it, and learn that getting stuck is not failure.
It’s the beginning of growth.

-Janani

Registration Deadline: February 3, 2026

What: A national STEM competition where student teams envision and design innovative technology solutions that could exist 10+ years in the future

Who: K-12 students in the United States and Canada. High school students compete in grades 10-12 division

Format: Teams of 2-4 students with a teacher/coach and optional mentor. Teams select a current technology and imagine how it could evolve over the next decade.

Prizes:

Perfect for: Students interested in STEM, future technology, innovation, and creative problem-solving. Ideal for those who want to think beyond what exists today and imagine what's possible

Cost: Free to enter! No entry fees

What makes it unique: Unlike traditional science fairs that test what exists today, ExploraVision challenges students to combine imagination with scientific principles to design what could exist tomorrow. Students think like innovators, identifying real problems and envisioning creative solutions grounded in actual science.

Learning that feels smooth and easy might not be learning at all. Research on "desirable difficulties" reveals a powerful truth: the right kind of challenge during learning - even when it feels uncomfortable - leads to better long-term retention and deeper understanding.

AI tools bring a unique advantage to education because of their inherent unpredictability. Unlike traditional textbooks or standardized lessons, AI doesn't give you the exact same response twice. When students use AI to solve problems, they must learn to evaluate outputs, adapt their approaches, and think critically about whether what they're getting actually makes sense.

This variability creates what cognitive scientists call a "desirable difficulty" - a productive struggle that forces students to engage more deeply with material rather than passively accepting predetermined answers. Students working with AI must constantly make decisions: Is this output accurate? How can I improve my prompt? What am I missing?

The result? Students who learn with AI aren't just memorizing processes - they're developing genuine problem-solving skills and the confidence that comes from successfully navigating uncertainty. They learn that getting stuck isn't failure; it's part of the learning process.

Read the full blog post here: The Certainty Trap: Why Gen Alpha Needs AI Skills More Than AI Solutions

Traditional education often traps students in one of two undesirable states: material that's too easy leads to boredom and disengagement, while content that's too difficult creates frustration and learned helplessness. The sweet spot - what researchers call the "zone of proximal development" - is where real learning happens.

AI-powered adaptive learning platforms are transforming how students experience this optimal challenge level. These systems continuously analyze student performance and adjust content difficulty in real-time, ensuring learners are neither overwhelmed nor under-stimulated.

The same effect also happens when students work with AI to create apps. The foundations of building apps is the same but the student decides in which direction they want to take it.

Research shows students using AI-driven personalized learning demonstrate higher engagement, deeper retention, and increased confidence. By delivering lessons at the right difficulty level, personalized learning builds competence through accomplishment rather than through either overwhelming challenge or unchallenging repetition.

Read more: How AI is transforming personalized learning in 2025

This week, we're highlighting Mridula Manigandan, an 8th grader from North Carolina who tackled a problem millions face: buying makeup and skincare products without knowing what will actually work for your unique features.

Ever bought foundation that was supposed to be "your shade" but made you look like a ghost? Or tried that viral skincare routine that worked for everyone except you? Mridula experienced exactly this frustration - walking into stores or scrolling through beauty sites with absolutely no guidance about what would work for her specific face.

So she built "Glow AI" - a personal beauty expert powered by artificial intelligence.

Here's how it works:

Mridula's solution transforms beauty shopping from expensive guesswork into personalized recommendations based on your actual features. No more products sitting unused in drawers because they didn't work for you.

Check out Mridula's Glow AI app pitch and share your comments

Flintolabs students learn to navigate uncertainty, evaluate outputs critically, and build solutions to real problems. Our program creates the kind of productive struggle that develops genuine competence and lasting confidence.

The November cohort starts soon. Spaces are limited to ensure personalized attention.

Give Your Student the Challenge They Need to Grow →

Our program has a 5-star rating with reviews from both students and parents. If you have questions before signing up, email us at [email protected].

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Found this valuable? Forward this newsletter to other high schoolers and parents who want to be informed about AI trends and what is needed to prepare for an AI-driven future. Every student deserves the chance to build real skills before college.

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