Artificial Intelligence, Learning Sciences, and Education Policy Worldwide

Catalog description

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping education worldwide, presenting both great opportunities and significant policy challenges. From adaptive learning systems and AI tutoring bots to early warning systems and intelligent textbooks, governments and institutions around the world are integrating AI into educational ecosystems. This course explores the global rise of AI in education through the lens of the learning sciences, examining how intelligent educational systems are transforming pedagogy, assessment, and educational equity. Blending theory and practice, we will critically investigate how AI supports (or hinders) cognitive development, motivation, self-regulation, and learning transfer. We’ll also engage deeply with the ethical and policy dimensions of this technology: What are the implications of cognitive offloading caused by AI? How should AI be regulated? How can policy ensure responsible AI integration in diverse educational contexts? Through international case studies (e.g., the U.S., Brazil, China, India, South Korea, and others), we will analyze national AI in education initiatives and international guidelines (e.g., UNESCO’s recommendations). A strong practical component is included: students will design or critique AI-enabled educational interventions and develop policy briefs and analyses. They can also “play” with various AI technologies and discuss their implications in education policy design. Guest speakers from government, industry, or international organizations will provide real-world insights into AI in education, ranging from the development of national strategies to the implementation of cutting-edge learning technologies in classrooms. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to link AI technologies with the principles of the learning sciences and critically evaluate AI’s impact on learning to better design and assess…