Brian Johnsrud
PhD, Global Head of Education Learning and Advocacy, Adobe
While student disengagement is increasing, the right AI technology can inspire their creativity and enhance their educational experiences.
Students are becoming disengaged from learning — and for various reasons.
“Learners are overwhelmed, and learning formats are outdated,” says Brian Johnsrud, PhD, Global Head of Education Learning and Advocacy at Adobe. “There’s also the sense that school doesn’t match the world students live in. They’re asking, ‘Why am I learning this? And why am I learning it this way? Why am I filling in a worksheet when I know I don’t have to do that in real life?’”
Some teachers might think that edtech will ride to the rescue. But Johnsrud points out that tech for tech’s sake isn’t the answer. It must be able to fire students’ imaginations and empower their self-expression.
“Creativity is key to student engagement,” he explains. “Because when students create to learn, they don’t just participate more — they care more. And usually, they’re creating something they see in the real world, like a poster, video or a restaurant menu. They think, ‘There are people in the real world who do these kinds of things.’ That gets the wheels turning and, suddenly, they’re engaged.”
How generative AI can be a ‘game-starter’
Generative AI is particularly useful in this regard. However, Johnsrud calls it ‘a game-starter’ rather than a ‘game-changer’.
“AI helps teachers teach, enabling them to do the things they’ve always wanted to do in the classroom,” he says. “And it helps students because it gets them over the fear of the blank page, or that voice in their head that tells them: ‘You’re not an artist, and you’re not creative.’ Because suddenly they can come up with variations of different ideas in formats that match their strengths.” Aside from engaging their learning, these tools equip them with essential skills they’ll need when they enter the workforce.
when students create to learn, they don’t just participate more — they care more.
Of course, some teachers have anxieties about the safety and accuracy of AI — and that’s understandable, agrees Johnsrud. But even short professional development sessions can alleviate their fears and break down barriers to AI adoption.
And while teaching students AI literacy may sound daunting, it doesn’t need to be because it’s not about coding or computer skills. It’s about using the technology responsibly to make learning more inspiring. “The message is: educators don’t need to overhaul their practice,” says Johnsrud. “But they do need simple and safe tools that can help students think, create and communicate in more dynamic and engaging ways.”
