When Joe and I first sat down with my brother Khoa to talk about education and AI, one thing kept coming up—test prep. Every year, we were pulling from old benchmarks, handing out packets, running small groups, and hoping something would stick. But it always felt like guesswork. We never had a real system for helping students in the moment or seeing exactly where their thinking broke down. That conversation sparked Instructron. We didn’t want another worksheet generator. We wanted a tool that gave students immediate feedback and helped teachers understand what their students needed without having to sit next to each one.
Putting It to the Test in My Own Room
Instructron launched in April, just two weeks before the ELA CAASPP. It wasn’t an ideal timeline, but I knew I wanted to try it with my own students. We started by exploring the platform together, then moved into independent practice. Students used Coach Tronnie to work through challenging questions, and I used their questions and responses to guide my teaching. Even with limited time, the results were powerful.
Real Growth in the Bubble Group
Our “bubble group”—students scoring a Level 2, just below proficiency—showed the most growth. After two weeks of using Instructron, half of those students moved up to a Level 3, reaching proficiency on the state test. We also saw some students move from a 3 to a 4, the highest level. There were also students who scored lower than expected, despite showing strong daily proficiency in class. That’s not surprising given how much testing students go through in the spring. Test fatigue is real, especially by the time the ELA CAASPP rolls around. One or two off days don’t define a student, and we always keep that in mind.
More than just the scores, we saw confidence grow. Students approached questions with more clarity, made better choices, and understood why their answers worked or didn’t.
What This Taught Us
This experience confirmed what we believed when we started building Instructron. Students thrive when they get fast, clear, and supportive feedback. Teachers are more effective when they have visibility into student thinking. And real growth happens when tools support, not replace, good instruction.
Even in a short window, Instructron helped students build confidence, improve their understanding, and show what they know. We built this platform because we knew there had to be a better way. Seeing it work in my own class reminded us why we started and what’s possible when we give students the right kind of support.