From Hard Work to Smart Learning: Educational Paradigm Transformation in the Age of Automation and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The traditionally understood educational concept of success has been around 'uninterrupted efforts' and rote learning. But, with the ever increasing need to innovate and automate learning, there is a need to redefine the learning models from time spent learning to intelligent learning through careful planning where technology tools are incorporated, but without losing the disciplined interaction with the subject matter. It discusses this paradigm shift in education within the context of Higher education in Pakistan and examines the theoretical basis, implications for various stakeholders of education (students, teachers, parents and policy makers), and the required actions to support the shift at institutions. Based on the analysis of learning science research and research about technology enhanced education and critical thinking development theory in the learning process in today's context, the article shows that learning in an authentic context in the current context does not need to be abandoned, just that there must be a shift in the deployment of effort to allow learning to proceed at a deeper level and not only at a shallow level, so that the ability to learn is achieved and developed meaningfully. Now, more than ever before, are educational institutions required to be efficient in using the technology but more so to give importance to critical thinking, analytical reasoning and actually implementing knowledge. The article ends with the following conclusions: “It means that the role of the higher education system in Pakistan is at the turning point – those higher education institutions which will shift to intelligent learning without compromising on standards will produce higher education graduates who will be able to survive in the knowledge economies while the universities and colleges which are continuing with examination based system of learning may produce such higher education graduates who will not be competent enough to work in a workplace and make a significant contribution in the society”. Implementation will involve extensive faculty development, redesigning the assessment, student digital literacy development, and policy at the HEC level and the institutional level to create expectations and to support systemic change.

Smart learning, educational technology, critical thinking, deep learning, Pakistan higher education, learning paradigms, metacognition, educational transformation, 21st century skills are the key words used.