Encouraging Passion-Driven Learning in Education

There is widespread concern about student cheating in schools, but why do we want students to do things that AI can do? If we free students from learning traditionally prescribed content, what else can they learn and how can learning happen?

In a week-long summer camp held in Beijing, China last month (August 2025), over 100 middle and high school students from multiple cities in China and Australia explored these questions. The camp was organized by YEE Education under the Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Education (ICEE) philosophy, which focuses on personalized learning to enable students develop their personal strength and interests, problem finding and solving to encourage students to find and solve authentic and meaningful problems, and building human interdependence through collaboration and problem solving for each other. In this camp, students from different backgrounds and with diverse expertise and interests used AI to explore their strengths, discover and refine problems and solutions, and investigate the meaning of human interdependence. The camp did not use traditional teachers. Instead, it used graduate students from different colleges in China as mentors.

The camp significantly affected students' perspectives on education and learning. In this episode, we invite a group of students and teachers from University Senior College (USC) to reflect on their experiences at the camp and helps understand the question: What Is Worth Learning in the Age of AI?

More after the video

https://youtu.be/iQSwdD_7xPM

Read more about the theoretical discussions about the program:

If Schools Don’t Change, the Potential of AI Won’t Be Realized published in Educational Leadership. Available at: https://ascd.org/el/articles/if-schools-dont-change-the-potential-of-ai-wont-be-realized

1. Artificial Intelligence and Education: End the Grammar of Schooling published in ECNU Review of Education. Available at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20965311241265124
2. Paradigm Shifts in Education: An Ecological Analysis published in ECNU Review of Education. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20965311241296162
3. From Meritocracy to Human Interdependence: Redefining the Purpose of Education published in ECNU Review of Education. Available at:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20965311251351988

Participants:

Students include Anita, Ari, Anika and Shayanne.

Shayanne Lim is a Year 11 student at University Senior College (USC) in Adelaide, South Australia. She is currently studying Legal Studies, Politics, Business Innovation, Philosophy, and Accounting as part of her SACE pathway. Being immersed in USC’s university-style learning environment has strengthened her interest in pursuing further study in Law and International Relations, with a major in Business. Outside of her studies, she has worked in a range of part-time roles that centre on teaching, mentoring, and connecting with children, from volunteering at kids’ church on Sundays, to teaching sport, and hosting parties. In 2025, she participated in her first YEE Camp, where she especially enjoyed the new experience of learning alongside the young participants. The highlight for her was interacting with the children, and despite language barriers, she found it fun and rewarding to engage with them and share conversations across cultures. Her passions are in learning, helping others, and embracing new opportunities. She is particularly interested in Law and International Relations to advocate for social justice and global collaboration. She is also drawn to entrepreneurship and hopes to use her passion in educational reform and to contribute to a better society, whether through improving education systems for children or creating meaningful social initiatives.

Anika Anantula is a Year 11 student at University Senior College (USC) in Adelaide, South Australia. She is currently studying English Literature Studies, Mathematical Methods, Biology, Psychology, Philosophy, and Economics as part of her SACE pathway. Being immersed in USC’s university-style learning environment has strengthened her interest in pursuing further study in Neuropsychology, specifically a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) with a focus on Cognitive Neuroscience. She hopes to use this knowledge to better understand the human brain, contribute to improving educational and social systems, and support individuals in reaching their potential. Outside of her studies, Anika has gained experience working in roles that involve teaching, mentoring, and supporting others, including volunteering at a scout group, babysitting, and working in Coles’ online department. In 2025, she participated in her first YEE Camp, where she particularly valued learning to communicate beyond words, using gestures and symbols to connect across language barriers. The experience of teaching the children fostered a deep appreciation for educators’ resilience and highlighted the importance of patience, creativity, and adaptability, which she recognises as especially important skills in the rapidly evolving age of AI. Anika is passionate about helping others, exploring new experiences, and working outside her comfort zone. Her interest in neuropsychology is driven by a desire to understand the brain and use that knowledge to help people flourish. She is particularly committed to creating opportunities for children to thrive, both through educational initiatives and meaningful social contributions, aiming to make a positive impact on society.

Ari Stevens is a Year 11 student at University Senior College (USC) in Adelaide, South Australia. She is currently studying Math methods, English literature, Economics, Design, Psychology, and currently undertaking AIF. USC’s unique learning environment has allowed her to fulfil her learning interests through the support of teachers and peers. She plans to further her studies at university and build a career path into the business field. Outside of School, Ari has gained experience working at several part time jobs and competed for 7 years in local baking competitions. This has allowed her to learn how to work independently, while supporting a team setting. She participated in the 2025 YEE Camp held in Beijing, where she valued the opportunity to meet international students and the chance to collaborate in their learning. The unique experience allowed her to grow new hope the future of education in the age of AI through the different perspectives she was able to encounter. Ari finds passion in learning about how others behave and in turn how the world works. She plans to fulfil these passions through her love of business, which will open the opportunity to find and discover new ways to benefit people. The invitation to YEE Camp was especially beneficial as she hopes to have the chance to travel with her career and work alongside teams worldwide to discover new insights about people around the globe.

The teachers are:

Michael Jacobsen

Michael Jacobsen works at University Senior College (USC) in Adelaide, South Australia. USC is a Senior High School located on the University of Adelaide’s main CBD campus and teaches Economics and Business Innovation to students in Years 11 & 12 (final two years of high school) and they progress through USC’s academic and pastoral care programs while being immersed in the ‘university experience’ on campus. He has taught at the school since it commenced in 2002 and previously taught in Sydney (Australia) and London (United Kingdom). He spent 10 years as the Dean of USC’s International Program 2010-2020. He is currently the President of the Economic Teacher’s Society of South Australia. In addition to his teaching load, he is also has a role organising and facilitating the USC Yr11 & 12 Mentoring Program at USC.

Michael’s passion is working with and mentoring his students, early career teachers and experienced colleagues. At this stage of his career his goals include being as helpful as he can to these groups of people and helping them flourish. He loves nothing more than time with his family and friends, surfing and playing guitar; and walking the family dog with his wife.

In 2023, 2024 & 2025 Michael and his USC colleague (Sam Franzway) have taught their cross-curriculum HIP Project course to five cohorts in Adelaide with their Society & Culture and Business Innovation students – they are also now ‘veterans’ of two YEE Education International Camps in China (Chongqing August 2024 & Beijing August 2025).

Sam Franzway

Sam Franzway is an early-career teacher of English and Humanities at University Senior College (USC) in Adelaide, South Australia. Before Sam became a teacher, he worked in the Graduate and Student Academic Assistance units at Flinders University, and the University of South Australia. This experience, in addition to two Masters degrees and a PhD, has informed his passion for teaching English, Humanities, and research skills in the senior school environment.

Sam is also a writer, comedian, and photographer. He publishes two podcasts: Why Teach? Australia and Just Going For A Drive. In Why Teach?, Sam interviews experienced teachers about why they became a teacher, their experiences in schools, and what advice they would give themselves when they first started out. Just Going For a Drive is a comedy podcast about Sam’s hobby of cars and driving.

In 2023, Sam and his USC colleague (Michael Jacobsen) were part of the YEE HIP Pilot in Adelaide with their Society and Culture, and Business Innovation students – they are back in 2024 to ‘do it all again’!

Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org