Embracing Time: The Human Connection in an AI-Dominated World

Rethinking Our Approach to AI in Education

As an educator, the continuous stream of headlines about AI in education often leads to a whirlwind of existential thoughts, echoing the sentiment of Billie Eilish’s poignant question: “What was I made for?” Particularly when AI seems equipped to handle nearly every task.

The Complexity of Generative AI Integration

Integrating generative AI into education is inherently complex. The current landscape of AI resembles the Wild West; we are navigating uncharted territory. As an assistant professor of educational technology, I constantly ponder the implications of AI on teaching and learning, especially as I implement various practices with the pre-service educators I teach.

Contemplating the True Value of Time

While I am enthusiastic about the potential of AI, a singular aspect gives me pause: the concept of time. Inspired by my favorite films like “Benjamin Button,” “About Time,” and the “Back to the Future” trilogy, I often reflect on what it means to truly live a fulfilling life given the limited time we possess.

A Provocative Question in Teacher Education

In a recent book delving into generative AI’s influence on teacher education, researchers Punya Mishra and Marie K. Heath posed a thought-provoking question: “What does it mean for learners to trade off the zone of proximal development for ease of access to the creation of knowledge?” Although they do not claim to have an answer, they emphasize the importance of considering this issue.

The Value of Experience

This inquiry made me contemplate whether, in our quest to minimize time and effort, we have overlooked the invaluable experiences gained during the process.

Reflections from Home

My interest in AI extends beyond academia into my daily life. Recently, while my husband and I spent over an hour clearing our garden, I found myself lost in thought. Kneeling in the dirt, I oscillated between loving and resenting the act of gardening.

The Satisfaction of Time Well Spent

Hours later, as I washed away the dirt, I reflected on the satisfaction derived from that laborious task. Home improvement projects are frequently showcased on social media through time-lapse videos, which condense hours of effort into brief yet gratifying visuals. While captivating, these snippets fail to encapsulate the profound sense of accomplishment that comes from our own toil.

Understanding the Impact of Time on Our Lives

Though time is a fundamental aspect of our existence, we often overlook its impact. As David Foster Wallace argued in his renowned 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech, we swim in time without recognizing its passage.

The Dichotomy of Choice

Indeed, machines could easily expedite my gardening task, and at times, I would welcome such assistance. But afterward, looking at the finished garden and feeling a sense of accomplishment reminds me that I understand both my garden and myself better through hard work.

The Concept of Meraki

There’s a beautiful Greek term, “Meraki,” which signifies doing something with soul, creativity, or love—putting ‘something of yourself’ into your endeavors. My mother’s homemade quilt embodies this sentiment far more than a store-bought one ever could, just as handwritten messages in cards carry profoundly human emotions.

Learning Through Hard Work

During a 2023 interview, professional basketball star Caitlin Clark recounted how her confidence burgeons from the hours spent perfecting her skills in the gym. Would she be the same athlete if she acquired these skills instantly? Is the depth of her experience as crucial as her physical prowess on the court?

The Potential of AI in Education

While I am not opposed to using AI—indeed, I see its vast potential to enhance our creativity and bolster effective teaching and learning—I am concerned that our focus often narrows into simplistic views of cheating. We should instead explore three critical questions: How can these innovative tools enhance our creativity? Will they help us become more human rather than less? Ultimately, much rides on our intentions and the choices we make in their use.

The Importance of Hands-On Learning

When I learned citation methods in high school, we were required to create citations manually using index cards, despite the existence of citation generators. Although tedious at the time, this experience deepened my understanding of citations. Is this acquired knowledge valuable? That can be debated, but my main challenge here is to encourage educators to reflect on the benefits and losses of intentional AI usage.

Reflecting on the Cost of Efficiency

What does it mean for work to be accomplished so swiftly? What are the costs? In his essay “Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change,” Neil Postman concluded that “every technology has a prejudice,” shaping our values and what we hold dear.

What Will We Sacrifice for AI?

As we embrace AI in a more mainstream manner, this leads to philosophical considerations. Practically, I recognize that many significant lessons in my life were learned through struggle, effort, and time invested. Those rewards hold immense value.

The Fulfillment of Hard Work

It is crucial that we do not forget the satisfaction derived from clearing a garden, improving through repetitive practice, or creating something by hand. Furthermore, our educational institutions must hold onto these principles. As Tom Hanks poignantly conveys in “A League of Their Own,” “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it great.”