Education for Human Agency in the Age of AI.
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| Title: | Education for Human Agency in the Age of AI. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Vontz, Thomas S.1 tvontz@ksu.edu, Larson, Lotta1, Windsor, Maddie1 madelinewindsor97@gmail.com, Bradshaw, Drew J.1 drewbradshaw@ksu.edu, Simmons, Dillon A.1 das1991@ksu.edu |
| Source: | Educational Considerations. 2026, Vol. 51 Issue 3, p1-19. 19p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Intellectual development, *Critical thinking, *Expertise, Judgment (Psychology), Moral agent (Philosophy), Agent (Philosophy), Artificial intelligence in education |
| Abstract: | This conceptual article argues that artificial intelligence (AI) does not alter the fundamental purposes of K–12 education but instead heightens the importance of cultivating distinctly human forms of knowledge and agency. Drawing on classical and contemporary educational thought, we identify four enduring capacities central to schooling: disciplinary understanding, applied competence, sound judgment, and reflective wisdom. We examine how these capacities align with the enduring aims of education and consider the extent to which schools currently develop them in practice. We then analyze how AI is reshaping teaching and learning by expanding access to information, automating routine cognitive tasks, and raising new questions about judgment, authorship, equity, and human development. In response, we propose a framework of human intellectual agency in an AI-mediated world, arguing that students, teachers, and schools must learn to empower, govern, and disrupt AI in ways that serve educational purposes. We conclude that AI makes the cultivation of human knowledge, judgment, and purpose more—not less— essential in contemporary schooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Educational Considerations is the property of Kansas State University, College of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 197575947 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Education for Human Agency in the Age of AI. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vontz%2C+Thomas+S%2E%22">Vontz, Thomas S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> tvontz@ksu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Larson%2C+Lotta%22">Larson, Lotta</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Windsor%2C+Maddie%22">Windsor, Maddie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> madelinewindsor97@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bradshaw%2C+Drew+J%2E%22">Bradshaw, Drew J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> drewbradshaw@ksu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Simmons%2C+Dillon+A%2E%22">Simmons, Dillon A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> das1991@ksu.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Educational+Considerations%22">Educational Considerations</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 51 Issue 3, p1-19. 19p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+development%22">Intellectual development</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Critical+thinking%22">Critical thinking</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expertise%22">Expertise</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+%28Psychology%29%22">Judgment (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+agent+%28Philosophy%29%22">Moral agent (Philosophy)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agent+%28Philosophy%29%22">Agent (Philosophy)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence+in+education%22">Artificial intelligence in education</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This conceptual article argues that artificial intelligence (AI) does not alter the fundamental purposes of K–12 education but instead heightens the importance of cultivating distinctly human forms of knowledge and agency. Drawing on classical and contemporary educational thought, we identify four enduring capacities central to schooling: disciplinary understanding, applied competence, sound judgment, and reflective wisdom. We examine how these capacities align with the enduring aims of education and consider the extent to which schools currently develop them in practice. We then analyze how AI is reshaping teaching and learning by expanding access to information, automating routine cognitive tasks, and raising new questions about judgment, authorship, equity, and human development. In response, we propose a framework of human intellectual agency in an AI-mediated world, arguing that students, teachers, and schools must learn to empower, govern, and disrupt AI in ways that serve educational purposes. We conclude that AI makes the cultivation of human knowledge, judgment, and purpose more—not less— essential in contemporary schooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Educational Considerations is the property of Kansas State University, College of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.4148/edconsiderations.20922 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Intellectual development Type: general – SubjectFull: Critical thinking Type: general – SubjectFull: Expertise Type: general – SubjectFull: Judgment (Psychology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Moral agent (Philosophy) Type: general – SubjectFull: Agent (Philosophy) Type: general – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence in education Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Education for Human Agency in the Age of AI. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Vontz, Thomas S. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Larson, Lotta – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Windsor, Maddie – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Bradshaw, Drew J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Simmons, Dillon A. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 01469282 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 51 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Educational Considerations Type: main |
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