Rethinking Education In Response to AI

Published on 21 March 2025 at 12:28

With the rise of GenAI tools in education, are the traditional pedagogies and philosophies of education in need of a refresh? Tim Evans states "AI is rapidly transforming education, and as this shift continues, I've been reflecting on how we manage change in such a dynamic environment. While much of the conversation focuses on the technology itself, we don't always discuss its impact on people and our practices." "The question is no longer whether AI will play a significant role in education; it’s how teachers, learners, and administrators can adapt their strategies and reimagine traditional practices to fully harness its potential" (Cooper, 2025). Ultimately, “are the teachers of today ready to develop the leaders we will need tomorrow?” (Allen, 2019)

 

As an ELA teacher for neurodiverse students, I see AI providing an incredible opportunity to rethink the educational system. "AI offers opportunities to personalize learning, automate administrative tasks, and provide data-driven insights, but realizing these benefits requires a huge shift in mindset and pedagogy" (Cooper, 2025). "The interdisciplinary competencies needed in an AI era--creativity, communication, computational thinking, and lifelong learning--necessitate rethinking both what is taught and how. Curriculum and teaching strategies rooted in the 20th-century industrial model will not adequately cultivate the flexible, well-rounded skill sets humans need to complement AI systems and continue innovating. Policymakers and education leaders must collaborate to build the learning environments students need to think critically, work creatively, and thrive in an AI-driven world" (George, 2023). "Delegating repetitive tasks—such as memorizing dates or simple arithmetic—to AI enables students to engage in deeper learning, critical analysis, and innovative problem-solving. The question shifts from “What do I know?” to “How can I use what I know to create something new?” This is the transition from what to think to how to think, a shift that is fundamental in the AI era" (Jajal in The International Classroom, 2025).

 

Elements of education to rethink in light of the AI Age:

  • Purpose of Education: What are we preparing individuals for now and in the future? 
    • Cultivating skills that are uniquely human—creativity, ethical judgment, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving.
    • Preparing students not just to use AI tools, but to critically understand, shape, and ethically guide AI technologies.
    • Ensuring equitable access to AI resources and opportunities for all learners.
  • Teaching Strategies: What approaches are being used by teachers to convey knowledge?
    • Incorporate AI-driven personalized learning tools that adapt to individual students’ progress, interests, and learning styles.
    • Shift from content delivery to facilitating critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy.
    • Encourage collaborative learning environments where AI is a partner in the learning process, not just a tool.
  • Curriculum Design: How does curriculum achieve educational purposes and goals?
    • Developing interdisciplinary curricula where AI is integrated with arts, humanities, science, and social studies.
    • Include AI literacy: understanding how AI works, its ethical implications, and how to interact with it effectively.
    • Develop curricula that integrate AI as both a subject of study and a medium of exploration.
  • Assessment Methods: How are assessment methods measuring student understanding and progress formatively, summatively, and analytically? 
    • Using AI to provide real-time, formative feedback to help learners progress at their own pace.
    • Balancing quantitative and qualitative assessments to measure creativity, ethical reasoning, and emotional intelligence.
    • Use AI to assess higher-order skills (e.g., creativity, collaboration) through complex problem-solving tasks.
  • Learning Theories (Constructivism): What education aims to achieve for learners? (spelling and punctuation vs. creativity, critical thinking, and analysis)
    • Go beyond mere content mastery to cultivate holistic, adaptable, and ethically grounded individuals.
    • Viewing AI as a tool for enhancing human intelligence, creativity, and productivity.
    • Teaching students how to collaborate with AI systems effectively, using them as partners in research, creativity, and innovation.

 

 

Interesting articles on the Rethinking of Education:

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