AI transforming education into a transactional rather than experiential process

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the educational landscape, shifting traditional learning experiences toward a more transactional model. With AI-powered tools increasingly handling instruction, assessment, and even content generation, education risks losing its experiential essence, reducing learning to a series of exchanges rather than an engaging, holistic process.

The Rise of AI in Education

AI has become a central force in modern education, offering personalized learning experiences, automated grading, and AI tutors. Chatbots and virtual assistants provide instant answers, adaptive learning platforms tailor instruction to student needs, and AI-generated content reduces the burden on educators. While these advancements improve accessibility and efficiency, they also redefine the learning process, making it more transactional.

Transactional vs. Experiential Learning

Traditional education is rooted in experiential learning, where students engage in discussions, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative activities that foster deeper understanding. AI, however, promotes a transactional model where students receive immediate answers without actively engaging in the learning process. This shift prioritizes efficiency over depth, potentially diminishing the cognitive and social benefits of traditional education.

AI-Powered Efficiency vs. Active Engagement

AI streamlines learning by automating tasks such as grading, test generation, and content delivery. While this saves time, it also discourages critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. Rather than exploring ideas through debate, inquiry, and hands-on experiences, students may become passive recipients of information. The experiential aspects of learning—like brainstorming, experimenting, and debating—are difficult to replicate in AI-driven environments.

Personalization vs. Standardization

AI-driven education is often praised for its ability to personalize learning. However, in reality, AI relies on standardized data models, limiting its adaptability to unique student needs. The personalization AI offers is often based on past performance rather than fostering creative and critical thinking skills. By narrowing the focus to predefined responses and structured learning paths, AI risks reducing education to a formulaic process rather than an evolving, interactive experience.

Impact on Educators

Teachers play a crucial role in fostering experiential learning through mentorship, real-time feedback, and emotional intelligence—qualities AI lacks. As AI tools take over instructional duties, the teacher-student relationship becomes more transactional, reducing opportunities for personal connections and deeper discussions. The role of educators shifts from facilitators of knowledge to supervisors of AI-driven learning processes, potentially diminishing their influence in shaping students’ intellectual and emotional development.

The Risk of Superficial Learning

AI-generated content and instant feedback can create an illusion of learning, where students quickly absorb information without truly understanding or applying it. Traditional learning encourages students to struggle with complex problems, refine their thought processes, and develop resilience—elements that AI-driven, transactional learning often neglects.

Balancing AI and Experiential Learning

To preserve the experiential nature of education while leveraging AI’s benefits, a balanced approach is essential:

• Hybrid Learning Models: AI should complement, not replace, experiential learning methods. A blend of AI-powered efficiency and hands-on engagement can enhance learning outcomes.

• Critical Thinking Emphasis: Schools should prioritize open-ended discussions, project-based learning, and problem-solving exercises to counterbalance AI’s transactional nature.

• Teacher Involvement: Educators should retain an active role in guiding students, using AI as a supplementary tool rather than a primary instructor.

• Ethical AI Use: AI implementation should focus on enhancing learning rather than replacing traditional educational experiences.

AI’s role in education is inevitable, but it must be integrated thoughtfully to ensure that learning remains a meaningful, experiential journey rather than a series of transactions. Balancing technology with human interaction and critical thinking will help maintain the depth and richness of education in the AI era.