AI and the Future of Pedagogy
This white paper explores how education can respond to the rise of AI. It argues that technology should enhance, not undermine, core skills — such as critical thinking — and offers practical guidance for integrating AI into teaching while fostering meaningful, human-centered learning.
November 03, 2025
Tom Chatfield's AI and the Future of Pedagogy cautions against letting AI erode essential human skills, such as critical thinking, discernment, and domain expertise, and instead advocates for utilizing AI as a catalyst for deeper learning. Drawing on cognitive science, instructional research, and real-world case studies, Chatfield outlines best practices for leveraging AI in ways that support active, reflective, and collaborative learning.
It critiques defensive, surveillance-based institutional responses to AI and calls for a shift toward transparent, experimental, and mastery-based assessment. It highlights the need for educators to become designers and facilitators of learning environments, and for institutions to ground their use of technology in civic and ethical purposes. Ultimately, the white paper argues for a future-focused pedagogy that prepares students to thrive in an AI-rich world by developing both technical fluency and distinctively human capacities.
Key recommendations include:
- Integrate AI where it supports clear pedagogical objectives.
- Use AI as a complement to group work, not a substitute.
- Build educator involvement into technology design.
- Move beyond surveillance to reflective, mastery-based assessment.
- Anchor the use of technology in civic and ethical purpose
About the author:
Dr Tom Chatfield is a British tech philosopher, author, and advisor, and speaker. He writes, broadcasts and consults internationally, with a special interest in critical thinking, AI, and future skills. His recent work includes designing and presenting new critical thinking and AI business courses for The Economist; running international seminars on the critically discerning use of AI; and co-creating a prototype AI cognitive co-pilot
An experienced Chair and NED, he is currently a member of the British Library Advisory Council, and Associate at the interdisciplinary think-tank, Perspectiva. His books exploring digital culture — including Wise Animals, How To Thrive in the Digital Age, and Fun Inc. — are published in over thirty languages, while his critical thinking textbooks, such as Critical Thinking (published by Sage), are used by universities, institutions, and companies around the world.
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