Keynote Speakers

Jason Lodge. The University of Queensland (Australia)

Keynote: The AI paradox: In supporting learning, AI is undermining it

The proliferation of AI (particularly generative AI and automated decision-making systems) in education is forcing a reappraisal of the relationship between technology and learning. While these tools offer unprecedented efficiency, their capacity to reduce intellectual challenge directly conflicts with established principles of cognitive science. Evidence consistently demonstrates that deep, persistent learning is not a product of ease but is instead forged through productive struggle and the resolution of cognitive conflict. Removing this "desirable difficulty" risks eroding the very metacognitive and self-regulatory skills that are foundational to adapting and thriving in the age of AI. The rise of increasingly intelligent machines raises profound questions that extend beyond individual pedagogy, pointing toward the need for fundamental, system-level change. Productive struggle is a necessary catalyst for learning. Therefore, educational systems must be intentionally redesigned to preserve it, requiring a critical reimagining of assessment integrity, curriculum design, and policies on educational technologies.

Workshop: Designing assessment for desirable difficulties and academic integrity

This workshop bridges the gap between large-scale assessment reform and classroom practice. In this session, we move beyond AI-proofing to focus on designing assessments that actively enhance learning. Participants will use a structured framework to consider assessment tasks for both academic integrity and their capacity to foster deep learning. The goal is to create meaningful tasks that are not only valid in the age of AI but also pedagogically powerful. Attendees will gain an evidence-based framework for assessment reform that can be immediately applied to their own teaching contexts, along with strategies for designing tasks that promote both academic integrity and the deep, effortful learning that leads to student success.

About Jason Lodge

Professor Jason M. Lodge, PFHEA, is a Professor of Educational Psychology and Director of the Learning, Instruction, and Technology Lab in the School of Education at The University of Queensland, Australia. His work explores the cognitive and emotional mechanisms of learning with digital technologies, addressing critical questions of how technology, particularly AI, is shaping learning and education. Jason's research informs educational policy and practice across Australia and internationally. He serves as an expert advisor for the Australian Government and OECD, applying his work to enhance equitable learning for all students.