Sandbook.ai

This summer, our collaboration with the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (FCIT) at King AbdulAziz University set out to address a silent burden in classrooms across Saudi Arabia.  Teachers today are not just educators — they are expected to be content creators, curriculum designers, entertainers, data analysts, and moral guides all at once. The challenge isn’t passion — it’s bandwidth.   Together with FCIT, we asked: What if classroom innovation didn’t depend on individual heroism — but on reusable intelligence? We worked with FCIT’s expert researchers — Dr. Doaa Sinnari specialized in the design and development of educational video games, and Dr. Nofe Alganmi specialized in Generative Artificial Intelligence and AI-driven education — to develop a modular framework that translates proven learning activities into adaptive, interactive educational games. These aren’t just static formats. They serve as: ✅ Cognitive jump-starters for teachers who know what they want students to learn, but need concrete ways to bring it to life through interaction. ✅ Research-aligned design patterns that ensure classroom play isn’t mere entertainment — it’s structured learning with measurable outcomes. ✅ A foundation for AI-driven lesson design, enabling teachers to adapt or generate activities instantly — without losing pedagogical integrity.   Early outcomes from this collaboration: • Up to 70% reduction in teacher prep time, enabling more focus on mentorship and human connection. • Improved student engagement and performance, as adaptive pathways personalize challenge and pacing.   This work is only the beginning. Together with FCIT at King AbdulAziz University, we are now documenting our findings in an academic paper — detailing the domain-specific pedagogical language that powers our AI system. Our goal is simple: To make scalable classroom intelligence not just accessible, but academically accountable. Grateful to our partners at FCIT for bringing scientific rigor to this journey. Real transformation happens not by replacing teachers, but by amplifying them.

A great initiative by Ming Dongfang aimed at strengthening collaboration and advancing education in KSA. Please reach out to her if you or your school is interested in getting involved.

In the founding journey, founders often forget to celebrate—treating every win as a must, a requirement on themselves, rather than a moment to pat their own shoulder. So here I am, celebrating—celebrating the entire co-founding team for traveling across the world to find the right opportunity here in Saudi, alongside the right people. Heartfelt gratitude to Emon Shakoor إيمان عبد الشكور and Ahmed Alkaf - their contributions to Saudi’s entrepreneurial journey merit a dedicated post. Coming soon ;)

Thanks to the thoughtful 500 Global team for nudging me—apparently even my logo needed a font! A timely reminder that in this era, communication with customers can be delightfully direct, as long as you are delivering real value.

From Vision to Play — in 5 Minutes. Today at Al Forsan International School مدارس الفرسان العالمية , we ran a workshop with one of the earliest and most committed communities using our AI-powered Gaming Engine. After a short walkthrough, teachers jumped straight in — uploading lesson materials, defining learning objectives and presentation forms, and generating game designs tailored to their classroom needs. This engine isn’t meant to be as straightforward as ChatGPT. It’s layered — built to move step by step toward your intent. Once the first version is generated, the Coding Studio lets you test, adjust, and refine. Thanks to the Al Forsan team led by Anastasia Giannouris and Salaamah Patelia, we didn’t just build amazing games — we explored edge-of-boundary moments where AI stumbles just enough to help us learn, and stretch its creative horizon. Every iteration brought us closer to making the engine work better — and more precisely — for real teaching goals. I was reminded of something Christopher Mckenzie shared at GESS Saudi Arabia: “Every reform meets resistance — whether it’s fear of the unknown or fear of losing control.” But what if AI doesn’t just automate lessons — it amplifies cognition? Imagine students gamifying pre-class prep in a way that works for their brain, not just their grade. Imagine teachers becoming orchestrators of experience, not just deliverers of content. Thanks for you all leading the change, using AI not to replace judgment, but to multiply it. Afsana Ahmed Aya Hazim Nadiema Benjamin Sadiyya K. #AIinEducation #CognitiveAmplifier #TeacherInnovation #GamifiedLearning #Sandbook #AlForsan #LearningEngines #NextGenTeaching

When a school truly puts AI first—not as a feel-good experiment, but as a deep, future-proofing commitment—you feel it. Every conversation, every prototype, every moment of imagination brought to life. Nearly a year ago, we started collaborating with SEK International School Riyadh, and it’s hard to overstate their impact. SEK didn’t just “explore” AI. They leaned in—driven by a belief that AI literacy isn’t optional for tomorrow’s learners, and that children should learn to use AI, not fear being replaced by it. This kind of partnership changes you. From Day 1, Sandra Ospina( she/hers), Susana C. , and Sadia Kidwai didn’t just co-create with us—they shaped the DNA of what would eventually become Sandbook.ai. We began with our "Chat-to-Story" engine, a tool that helped students shape their ideas into fables, poems, and wildly imaginative tales—guided by gentle, conversational AI. The joy students felt when they saw their imagination come to life? That joy became our north star. But the SEK team didn’t stop there. They challenged us to think about learners with dyslexia. About students needing emotional scaffolding. About real academic pain points in specific subjects. Their input pushed us to evolve—into what Sandbook.ai is now becoming: An AI game engine where teachers can turn lesson goals into playful, curriculum-aligned learning experiences—from story companions to study chatbots to mini-games. No stress. No fear. Just light, joyful learning. As GESS wraps up, this feels like the right moment to say: 🙏 Thank you to the pioneers who helped us build something that didn’t exist before. More to come, as we continue unlocking partnerships with leading schools across Saudi—and beyond. #AIinEducation #EdTech #GESS2025 #SEK #Sandbook #FutureOfLearning #LearningFearlessly