Measuring the impact of learning with AI in Sierra Leone and beyond

A Sierra Leone trial demonstrates that AI augments teaching while prioritizing student understanding and teacher leadership.

• •Students using Guided Learning gained +0.258 standard deviations in math, equivalent to 1.2-1.7 years of learning progress in eight weeks
• •91.4% of AI interactions focused on understanding-building; Gemini posed scaffolding questions in 76% of messages, direct answers in only 2%
• •Teachers became facilitators using AI for lesson planning, discovering new approaches to familiar topics
• •69% of students met usage targets, exceeding typical 5% adoption rates for educational technology
• •Skill-building queries increased from 68% to 90% by final week, showing students valued understanding over shortcuts