From Academia to Medium: Reflections on AI, Education, and Digital Transformation
I have been reading articles on Medium for a long time but never seemed to make the time to write my own.
What has Changed?
With almost three decades of academic experience, complemented by consultancy work in digital transformation, AI, and educational technology, I felt it was time to share my insights beyond my academic circle. My articles, I hope, will not only be valuable for a broader audience but will also directly benefit my students, whom I will be addressing in many of the coming posts.
There is no doubt that AI — and, more specifically, generative AI — will impact all aspects of our lives. However, I believe the transformation in education will be especially profound. The impact of generative AI will go far beyond using it as a tool to generate text; it will reshape how we teach, learn, and innovate within the educational sphere.
Why AI in Education Matters to Me
The importance of discussing the future impact of AI in education cannot be overstated. For me, and thousands of educators around the world, this conversation is crucial. It’s an opportunity to share thoughts, experiences, and strategies for navigating this evolving landscape together.
My journey with AI began in the mid-1990s when I was pursuing higher education at Sheffield University. At that time, most of the AI work I encountered revolved around rule-based systems — a common focus among the research groups I was involved with. The fields of neural networks and machine learning were still in their infancy compared to today’s standards.
Back then, programming languages like Prolog dominated research in Europe, while Lisp was more prevalent in North American labs. The landscape of AI research has changed dramatically since then. Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed groundbreaking advancements, including the development and proliferation of large language models (LLMs) that have revolutionized not just AI research, but the entire digital space. These models are now integrated into tools and platforms that shape how we work, communicate, and learn.
What to Expect in My Writing
In the coming weeks, I will dedicate part of my time to writing about these topics, exploring the intersections of AI technologies and their transformative effects on education. I aim for these articles to create a space for meaningful dialogue, inviting educators, technologists, and curious readers to share their own perspectives and insights.
My hope is that this platform becomes a catalyst for discussions on how we can harness the power of generative AI to enhance teaching methods, personalize learning, and prepare future generations for a world where AI plays a central role.
I look forward to embarking on this writing journey and contributing to the rich conversations on Medium. Let’s explore the potential of generative AI in education — and beyond — together.
