Transdisciplinary Dialogues on AI in Education

The authors integrate the classical elements – earth, air, water, and fire – within post-human perspectives to explore the multifaceted integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational contexts. A transdisciplinary approach invited a fertile dialogue among three academic experts from distinct fields of study, who then examined the transformative impact of AI in education: transcending traditional anthropocentric perspectives. In the ‘Earth’ metaphor, the narrative likens AI’s role to Earth’s stabilizing properties. It critically analyzes AI simulations in various disciplines, emphasizing AI’s support in fundamental learning and cognitive development, yet maintaining skepticism about its effects on embodied cognition and experiential learning. Addressing ‘Water’, the authors underscore the need for fluid, adaptable educational governance in response to AI integration. This element resonates with post-human ideas of fluidity and hybridity, urging educational systems to be responsive while expressing concerns about rapid technological changes and their wider implications, calling for thoughtful policy revisions. The focus in ‘Fire’ shifts to AI’s transformative effects on educational governance, intertwining ethical and data privacy issues. The authors critique the potential centralization of power of educational technology companies and the importance of preventing educational inequities and biases. Transitioning to ‘Air’, the focus is upon AI’s exponential impact on pedagogy, just as air facilitates communication. The authors examine AI’s potential for personalizing learning and enhancing interactive dynamics. Examining this element also highlights the importance of algorithmic transparency and the risks of diminishing human roles in education. Finally, the authors examine and interpret the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 through a post-human perspective, advocating for an educational governance model and framework that acknowledges the interplay between human, non-human, and technological entities, thereby emphasizing the need for transdisciplinary perspectives on AI in education to capture the Zeitgeist of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.