Durable Learning Is Even More Needed in the Age of AI
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has sparked widespread concern—primarily about cheating. However, the real issue is not about cheating but rather about how we prepare students to think effectively both with and without AI. The key to this preparation lies in durable learning—an approach to learning and teaching that ensures students develop deep, lasting cognitive abilities that go beyond rote memorization.
What Is Durable Learning?
Durable learning sits at the intersection of recall & retrieval and associative connections. It is the mechanism behind those Aha! moments when we solve problems and those Oh, that’s how that works moments of recognition. While retrieving learned information is critical, the ability to recall and connect that information across multiple domains is what enables critical thinking and problem-solving.
Durable learning equips students with the ability to:
Problem-Solve Through Strategic Thinking: It helps students think beyond conventional approaches and apply innovative insights to complex problems.
Apply Insights by Thinking Creatively: It fosters the ability to make novel connections across different disciplines, leading to unique perspectives and solutions.
Learn Faster: By establishing a strong neural network of information, students move beyond rote procedures and develop deep understanding.
These cognitive skills are the same educational outcomes that parents and businesses value. However, successful graduates need more than just cognitive ability. Employers and communities alike seek individuals who are empathetic, good listeners, proactive, and open-minded. These soft skills and dispositions, when combined with durable learning, have the potential to reshape our society for the better.
Why Durable Learning Matters More Than Ever
According to the 2023 World Economic Forum, by 2027, 60% of jobs will demand problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence. These are precisely the types of careers we want for our students—roles that require deep thinking, adaptability, and a proactive mindset.
Unfortunately, our current education system remains primarily focused on expectations for students rather than expectations of students. This distinction, highlighted by education researcher Ron Ritchhart, is crucial.
Expectations for students focus on compliance: producing work, following procedures, and preparing for standardized tests.
Expectations of students encourage deep learning: using knowledge creatively, thinking critically, and solving real-world problems.
In many classrooms, students are still trained to prove knowledge rather than to apply it. But in an AI-driven world, where information is easily accessible, proving knowledge is no longer enough. Instead, students must use their knowledge in meaningful ways. This shift requires an emphasis on durable learning practices—approaches backed by strong evidence in the learning sciences that deepen understanding and promote intellectual agility.
Reframing AI in Education: From Cheating to Learning
In the age of AI, educators have a choice in how they discuss AI with students. If we focus solely on expectations for students, the conversation will revolve around how to prevent AI use for cheating. However, if we shift the focus to expectations of students, we can foster discussions about how to teach students to use AI as a learning tool and help them learn in meaningful ways—one that enhances creativity, problem-solving, and knowledge application.
Here are some ways educators can integrate AI into their teaching to strengthen durable learning:
Use Hello History: Students can “talk” to historical figures using AI and then analyze the accuracy, depth, and perspective of the chatbot’s responses. This exercise fosters critical thinking and historical analysis.
Leverage ChatGPT or CoPilot for Writing: Instead of simply using AI to generate answers, students can refine AI-generated drafts by editing, adding citations, and rewriting content. This process emphasizes writing as a skill of refinement and critical engagement.
Compare AI Responses Across Platforms: By analyzing how different AI models respond to the same question, students can synthesize new insights, learning to evaluate information critically rather than passively accepting AI outputs.
AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
If our primary concern about AI is ensuring that students can put the “right words” together in sentences, we are missing the bigger picture. AI is not capable of replacing the creative problem-solving abilities of the human brain. It only appears capable when we reduce learning to memorization and word association—a shallow proxy for true understanding.
The real challenge for educators is not banning AI, but rather teaching students to see AI as a tool rather than a replacement for thinking. AI should be a partner in learning, one that helps students engage with concepts, test ideas, and refine their understanding—not one that completes their assignments for them.
By shifting our focus to durable learning, we prepare students for a future where they can use AI responsibly, ethically, and effectively. More importantly, we cultivate thinkers and problem-solvers—individuals who will shape the future rather than be shaped by technology.
Final Thoughts
Durable learning is more essential than ever in the AI era. By setting expectations of students rather than just for them, we can foster creativity, problem-solving, and deep intellectual engagement. AI, when used strategically, can support this mission rather than hinder it.
The question is not whether AI will change education—it already has. The real question is: How will we adapt our teaching to ensure that students learn not just to use AI, but to think beyond it?
At C3 Educational Services, we help teachers and parents develop students’ abilities to think and learn through connection, using science-backed tools for learning. If you want to learn more about these tools and how we can help your students, visit c3es.org and fill out the contact form at the bottom of the homepage.
