On dead classrooms

The dead internet theory postulates that online communication is often bots talking to other bots. English teacher John D. Duffy suggests that the use of artificial intelligence in school could lead to a similar phenomenon: dead classrooms. AI promises to make work and school more efficient by enabling users to complete tasks more quickly, but a focus on efficiency can reduce or eliminate the human struggle that makes learning happen. Classrooms without struggle become dead classrooms, where a lot appears to be getting done, but there’s little actual learning. He urges educators to preserve and protect the slow, uncertain, deeply human process of learning.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Phi Delta Kappan
Published
2025-12-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217251405525
Primary Topic
Educational Leadership and Innovation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

On dead classrooms

John Duffy
Phi Delta Kappan
Educational Leadership and Innovation
article

On dead classrooms

John Duffy
article en

Abstract

The dead internet theory postulates that online communication is often bots talking to other bots. English teacher John D. Duffy suggests that the use of artificial intelligence in school could lead to a similar phenomenon: dead classrooms. AI promises to make work and school more efficient by enabling users to complete tasks more quickly, but a focus on efficiency can reduce or eliminate the human struggle that makes learning happen. Classrooms without struggle become dead classrooms, where a lot appears to be getting done, but there’s little actual learning. He urges educators to preserve and protect the slow, uncertain, deeply human process of learning.

Phi Delta KappanVol. 107(3-4)
Openalex Percentile: Top 60%
Educational Leadership and Innovation
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On dead classrooms — John Duffy · Phi Delta Kappan (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS