Learning in the Age of AI

I recently wrote about the evolution of learning. A recent article takes this conversation further. Here is a short summary:

Across universities worldwide, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, DeepSeek, and Gemini are reshaping how students write, research, and learn. For many educators, that sparks concern about plagiarism and integrity. But focusing on policing misses a bigger question: are students truly learning?

AI performs best at what universities have long assessed — memorization and recall. That alone should tell us something. If machines can do it better, perhaps our task isn’t to compete, but to evolve.

The real opportunity lies in helping students analyze, critique, and improve on what AI produces — to see the gaps, question the logic, and evaluate its limitations. That’s not just critical thinking; it’s a future skill.

Educators can redesign assessments for deeper reasoning, use AI as a learning partner rather than a threat, and help students build fluency and ethical awareness around these tools. Done right, assessment becomes less about “what you know” and more about “how you think.” The referenced article dives deeper into the why and how of this phenomenon.

The goal isn’t to graduate humans who compete with machines — it’s to cultivate independent thinkers who can do what machines cannot: reflect, judge, and create meaning.

Originally published at http://frankdiana.net on October 5, 2025.