{"id":2597,"date":"2026-01-29T11:17:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=2597"},"modified":"2026-01-29T12:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T12:17:00","password":"","slug":"is-ai-a-valuable-education-tool-that-improves-student-learning","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/docs\/is-ai-a-valuable-education-tool-that-improves-student-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Is AI a Valuable Education Tool that Improves Student Learning?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Suggested Length: 1 hour<\/p><p>Learning Objectives:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Explore<\/strong> key ways AI may impact student learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Analyze<\/strong> how specific AI tools may support or conflict with their individual learning strategies using a structured comparison.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reflect<\/strong> on how understanding their own learning can help them use AI more ethically and responsibly in educational contexts.<\/li>\n<\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#e9f1f9\"><thead><tr><th>Approaches to Learning<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Vocabulary<\/th><th>Reflection Questions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Self-Awareness &ndash; Metacognition<\/strong><br>Be aware of how you learn best and what you tend to offload to tools.<br><br>Adjust strategies to self-regulate learning.<br><br><strong>Thinking Skills<\/strong><br>Evaluate advantages and limitations of different AI tools for learning.<br><br><br><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Artificial Intelligence (AI)<br>Metacognition<br>Self-regulated learning<br>Self-awareness<br>Cognitive offloading<br>Cognitive onloading<br>Learning strategy<br><br><br><br><\/td><td>What is one AI-related learning habit you currently have?<br><br>Is this habit mostly cognitive offloading or onloading? Why?<br><br>Does this habit help or hurt your learning?<br><br>If you were to plan one small change to your learning habit, what would you like to keep, change, or try?<br><br><br><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure><style>#sp-ea-2602 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 300ms;}#sp-ea-2602.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-2602.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-2602.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-2602.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-2602.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 16px;}<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1769679301\"><div id=\"sp-ea-2602\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ea-active=\"ea-click\" data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"\" data-scroll-active-item=\"\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-26020\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse26020\" aria-controls=\"collapse26020\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Resources and Preparation<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse26020\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-26020\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.kialo-edu.com\/en\/hc\/cloning-a-discussion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">Clone<\/a> the following discussion and share it with students: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kialo-edu.com\/p\/82c56507-dc79-491b-8bb2-8751843cd10e\/627459\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">Is AI a valuable education tool that improves student learning?<\/a><\/p><p>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/support.kialo-edu.com\/en\/hc\/small-group-mode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">Small Group Mode<\/a> to give groups access to their own version of the discussion, if appropriate.<\/p><p>If students are unfamiliar with metacognition, consider assigning this video in advance: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7CVssaGGPDM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-rich-links='{\"fple-t\":\"What Is Metacognition?\",\"fple-u\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7CVssaGGPDM\",\"fple-mt\":null,\"type\":\"first-party-link\"}'>What Is Metacognition?<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-26021\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse26021\" aria-controls=\"collapse26021\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Introduction<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse26021\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-26021\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p>Explain we are going to work on metacognition &ndash; thinking about how we think (and learn) and how it relates to how we use AI.<\/p><p>Lead students through a 3 - 2 - 1 Thinking Routine. Ask them to write down:<\/p><ul><li>3 actions they took during a good learning day<\/li><li>2 ways they received support (AI, classmate, teacher, video, graphic organizer)<\/li><li>1 feeling they had when they realized they were learning<\/li><\/ul><p>Introduce cognitive load using the following video: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WmaXayvw5c8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-rich-links='{\"fple-t\":\"Cognitive Load Theory\",\"fple-u\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WmaXayvw5c8\",\"fple-mt\":null,\"type\":\"first-party-link\"}'>Cognitive Load Theory<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>Introduce the concepts of cognitive onloading and offloading.<\/p><p>Think-Pair-Share examples of cognitive onloading and offloading.<\/p><p>Ask students to look back at their good learning day. Instruct them to add:<\/p><ul><li>One moment where they did most of the work (cognitive onloading).<\/li><li>One moment where a tool did most of the work (cognitive offloading).<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-26022\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse26022\" aria-controls=\"collapse26022\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Main Activity<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse26022\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-26022\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><strong>Part 1: Learning Habits and AI Tools<\/strong><\/p><p>Provide students with the My Learning Habits sheet and the AI Tools for Learning chart.<\/p><p>Have students individually complete the My Learning Habits sheet.<\/p><p>Ask students to circle strategies that require them to think more (onloading) and underline strategies where they use tools to do thinking work for them (offloading).<\/p><p>Explain that cognitive offloading can be split into two categories: helpful offloading and unhelpful offloading.<\/p><p>Explain that students should investigate five AI tools they use for offloading and complete the chart to show:<\/p><ul><li>How each tool might support their learning (helpful offloading).<\/li><li>How each tool might undermine their learning (unhelpful offloading).<\/li><\/ul><p>Come together as a class to share examples.<\/p><p><strong>Part 2: Kialo Discussion<\/strong><\/p><p>Share the cloned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kialo-edu.com\/p\/82c56507-dc79-491b-8bb2-8751843cd10e\/627459\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">Kialo discussion<\/a> with the class. You may want to consider using <a href=\"https:\/\/support.kialo-edu.com\/en\/hc\/small-group-mode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">Small Group Mode<\/a> to encourage more in-depth discussions among your students.<\/p><p>Display the thesis: &ldquo;<b>AI is a valuable education tool that improves student learning.<\/b>&rdquo;<\/p><p>Briefly show students the PRO and CON starter claims:<\/p><ul><li><b>PRO<\/b>: AI provides instant feedback on student work.<\/li><li><b>PRO<\/b>: AI can present information in different ways for different learners.<\/li><li><b>CON<\/b>: AI can give incorrect, biased, or shallow explanations.<\/li><li><b>CON<\/b>: AI takes opportunities away for student thinking.<\/li><\/ul><p>Explain that students should use findings from the sheet and chart in Part 1 to support their responses.<\/p><p>Clarify interaction expectations for the discussion. You may also set expectations by setting up <a href=\"https:\/\/support.kialo-edu.com\/en\/hc\/about-tasks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">Tasks<\/a> in advance.<\/p><p>Each student should:<\/p><ul><li>Add at least <b>4 claims in total<\/b> (e.g., 2 pro and 2 con).<\/li><li>One claim must be in response to their own idea, supporting it with a sub-claim that cites a specific AI-tool to support their response.<\/li><li>Reply to at least <b>two additional claims written by another student, either supporting or opposing. Cite specific tools to support claims where needed.<\/b><\/li><\/ul><p>Circulate as students work in the discussion.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-26023\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse26023\" aria-controls=\"collapse26023\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Reflection Activity<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse26023\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-26023\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p>Lead the students through the following reflection.<\/p><ol><li>Describe one current AI-related learning habit you have.<\/li><li>Is this habit mostly cognitive offloading or onloading? Why?<\/li><li>Does this habit help or hurt your learning?<\/li><li>Plan one small change to your learning habit for next week. What would you like to keep, change, or try?<\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Materials<\/h2><div data-height=\"auto\">\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kialo-edu.com\/p\/82c56507-dc79-491b-8bb2-8751843cd10e\/627459\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\" rel=\"nofollow\">Is AI a valuable education tool that improves student learning?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/strong> &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kialo-edu.com\" referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\">kialo-edu.com<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kialo-edu.com\/assets\/static\/js\/embedded-kialo.min.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\t\t<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-embedpress-embedpress aligncenter\" data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\" data-embed-type=\"GoogleDocs\"><div class=\"gutenberg-block-wraper  \"><div class=\"position-right-wraper ep-embed-content-wraper   \" style=\"position:relative;display:inline-block\"><div class=\"ose-google-docs ose-uid-7138a04669778a236c93317b891df5fc ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:600px; max-height:600px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\" data-embed-type=\"GoogleDocs\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Embed\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/e\/2PACX-1vR96znzWV-BE4BYzLKk7lIhdFd0l3i7vpejVpLQz1AH5ThfRQjStV2wr0jQrwjwhr3JDG52i_qKMSI8\/embed?start=false&amp;loop=false&amp;delayms=3000\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"width:600px;height:600px;max-width:100%;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><style>\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        max-height: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] iframe{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        max-height: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .embedpress-yt-subscribe iframe{\n                        height: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .ose-youtube > iframe{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .ose-youtube{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .ose-giphy img{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .ose-google-docs img{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive.ose-google-photos{\n                        height: 100% !important;\n                        max-height: 100% !important;\n                    }\n\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages iframe,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-1f355acf-1989-40ec-98b4-abd33aefa4ef\"] .getty{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        max-height: 600px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    <\/style><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Suggested Length: 1 hourLearning Objectives: Approaches to Learning Vocabulary Reflection Questions Self-Awareness &ndash; MetacognitionBe aware of how you learn best and what you tend to offload to tools. Adjust strategies to self-regulate learning. Thinking SkillsEvaluate advantages and limitations of different AI tools for learning. Artificial Intelligence (AI)MetacognitionSelf-regulated learningSelf-awarenessCognitive offloadingCognitive onloadingLearning strategy What is one AI-related [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"wds_primary_doc_category":0,"wds_primary_doc_tag":0,"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[43],"doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-2597","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry","doc_category-ai-crit-think"],"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-05","word_count":330,"total_views":"38","reactions":{"happy":"0","normal":"0","sad":"0"},"author_info":{"name":"Louise","author_nicename":"louise","author_url":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/author\/louise\/"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Critical Thinking and AI","term_url":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/docs-category\/ai-crit-think\/"}],"doc_tag_info":[],"knowledge_base_info":[],"knowledge_base_slug":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/2597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/2597\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=2597"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.kialo-edu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=2597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}