Empowering Educators: Operationalizing Age-Old Learning Principles Using AI

This paper aims to provide a framework for educators to effectively navigate the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) integration while maintaining the core principles of effective teaching and learning, specifically through the lenses of Dewey’s experiential learning, situated cognition, and distributed cognition. By examining these principles, we explore the essential role of the teacher in this context and the implications of ignoring AI. The integration of AI can enhance personalized learning experiences, facilitate adaptive learning systems, and support educators in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Additionally, we highlight the challenges and ethical concerns associated with AI use in education. We argue that AI should be viewed as a tool that enhances, rather than replaces, the role of educators, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the educator’s role in guiding and supporting student learning. This framework serves as a valuable resource for educators seeking to embrace AI’s potential while ensuring that teaching remains centered on student engagement and successfully achieving learning outcomes as we prepare the next generation to be an AI-ready workforce.