In a world where information is endless, but attention spans are shrinking, middle school students are becoming disconnected from credible news. Synchrolink, a student-founded team developing an edtech platform as part of the ACS Athens Open Program, is working to change that by turning current events and educational topics into short, engaging videos designed specifically for young learners.
Each video is under one minute long, combining AI-generated scripts and visuals with human editing by student journalists. The goal is simple: make news easier to understand, faster to consume, and more engaging than traditional articles.
Synchrolink Team
From left to right: Anil Inal (Student Journalist, Grade 10), Olympia Broustas (Student Journalist, Grade 9), Pavlos Broustas (Student Journalist, Grade 11), Katerina Logan (Co-founder, Grade 11), Evgenia Bakamitsos (Chief Editor, Grade 11), Ms. Carla Tanas (Dean of the Institute of ACS Athens)
Where It Started
The idea behind Synchrolink first took shape three years ago, created to address the growing disconnect between middle school students and credible news. The initiative was founded by Dimitris Manioudakis, with his classmate Katerina Logan later joining as co-founder. Developed as part of the ACS Athens Open Program, the project continues to evolve with Dimitris now attending school in Brussels, while the rest of the team operates from ACS Athens.
The concept emerged after the founders identified a major gap: nearly 70% of middle school students weren’t reading or watching the news. As a result, many were either unaware of global events or exposed to misinformation through social media. Synchrolink was built to respond to this reality, using a format students already engage with daily: short-form video.
How It Works
The platform, currently in development, produces weekly videos across subjects including History, Science, Gaming, Culture, Books, and Sports. Around ten videos are created each week by a team of student journalists working within a newsroom-style editorial structure led by chief editor, Evgenia Bakamitsos.
Artificial intelligence supports scriptwriting and video generation, but every video is reviewed by human editors to ensure accuracy, clarity, and age-appropriate language before publication.
Testing in Classrooms
To evaluate impact, Synchrolink conducted month-long classroom trials across subjects such as social studies, language arts, science, and physical education.
Students were split into groups: one watched a video, while another read an article on the same topic. Both completed identical comprehension assessments before switching formats.
Early feedback has been consistent. Students strongly preferred video content, citing easier understanding and higher engagement, especially when visuals reinforced key concepts.
The Bigger Picture
By combining artificial intelligence, student journalism, and classroom testing, Synchrolink addresses one of modern education’s most urgent challenges: keeping students informed in an age of distraction.
Rather than replacing traditional learning, the platform is designed to complement it, delivering credible information in a format students are more likely to engage with.
Looking Ahead
Currently, Synchrolink’s videos are hosted on a temporary testing portal. The long-term vision is a dedicated social learning platform and mobile app accessible both in schools and at home, featuring personalized content feeds for students.
Two versions are in development: a school platform focused on curriculum integration and classroom tools, and a parent premium platform offering ad-free, customized learning experiences.
Synchrolink will present its progress at Demo Day on May 20, 2026, at ACS Athens, where the team will showcase its research, platform, and future roadmap. If early results continue, the initiative could play a meaningful role in reshaping how the next generation engages with news and knowledge.