KERA's Think How A.I. is getting in the way of real learning
May 29, 2025
Clay Shirky, vice provost for A.I. and technology in education at NYU and author of the thought-provoking article on A.I. in academia, dives into the complexities of using A.I. in classrooms. He explores the balance between leveraging technology as a teaching aid and its potential to stifle critical thinking. Shirky emphasizes the importance of 'desirable difficulty' in assignments and warns about students' reliance on A.I., which can detract from authentic learning experiences. He also shares faculty concerns regarding student engagement in this tech-driven landscape.
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Writing as Learning Process
- Writing papers helps students engage deeply, organize thoughts, and grasp material better than just producing content.
- The purpose of assignments is the learning process, not just the final paper output.
Writing Forces Deeper Thinking
- Writing demands abstraction and critical thinking beyond speaking or listening.
- It forces students to clarify their understanding and critically review their own thought process.
Desirable Difficulty Boosts Learning
- Learning thrives in a "zone of desirable difficulty" where challenge exists but is manageable.
- Easy learning feels fluent but often leads to shallow knowledge; real gain happens with effort and frustration.
