Screen Deep Does AI Help Students Learn? With Adam Dubé, PhD
12 snips
Jan 21, 2026 
Adam Dubé, PhD, Associate Professor of Learning Sciences at McGill who studies children and technology, discusses how youth perceive AI and the risks of cognitive offloading. He outlines four classroom roles for AI, teachers’ shifting views, data and personalization concerns, and clear criteria parents should use when choosing educational apps.
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Classify AI Use Before You Deploy It
- Ask how you intend to use AI: as a resource, tutor, tool, or mind tool before deploying it.
- Avoid using generative AI as an information resource or tutor while it still hallucinates and is inaccurate.
Teachers Grew More Skeptical Over Time
- Teacher attitudes toward AI shifted from early optimism to growing negativity as classroom impacts emerged.
- High school teachers report the most concern because they face direct, widespread student use and consequences.
Train Teachers To Judge AI, Not Just Use It
- Train teachers to be critical, selective users of AI, not just how to operate tools or prompts.
- Prioritize professional development that teaches when AI supports learning and when to avoid it.