AI in education sparks debate over student learning and human interaction

Educators in Norway and Denmark are debating the long-term impact of generative artificial intelligence on student learning and the role of traditional university environments.

Christoph Trattner, a professor at the University of Bergen, argues that AI tools must be evaluated based on whether they improve work quality and what students can actually perform independently once the tools are removed. He warns that while AI can improve a final product, it often makes the learning process invisible, potentially depriving beginners of the essential experience of working through and understanding errors.

In Denmark, lecturer Gritt Overbeck emphasizes that despite the ease of self-study facilitated by AI, the most critical learning occurs through human interaction. She argues that universities must defend collective thinking and creativity, asserting that the value of learning together is a unique strength of the institution that technology cannot replace.