Social Learning Amplified hosted by Eric Mazur Why Reading Still Matters in the Age of AI
Jun 11, 2025
In this discussion, Jonathan Malesic, a writer and educator known for his work on burnout, dives into the evolving role of reading and writing in higher education amid the rise of generative AI. He highlights the challenge of maintaining student engagement with deep reading in a tech-saturated environment. Malesic shares strategies for boosting reading confidence, the potential of video to enhance learning, and how AI can challenge traditional writing practices. Ultimately, they explore the need for intrinsic motivation and intellectual growth in academia.
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Students' Intrinsic Motivation Persists
- Despite many external pressures to avoid deep learning, students still show a motivating force within to genuinely learn.
- This intrinsic motivation can defy the incentives to take shortcuts or disengage.
AI Summaries vs Deep Reading
- AI tools like Notebook LM can generate excellent summaries but risk undermining deep, nuanced reading.
- Real reading skills involve patience and understanding complexities beyond main takeaways, which AI summaries cannot replace.
Start Small with Book Assignments
- Reintroduce long book assignments starting with manageable numbers to build student's reading stamina and confidence.
- Use guided reading sessions in class to provide support and demonstrate feasibility of reading whole books.