Merlin

Exploring evidence-based pedagogy. Sharing high signal research and practical insights from the learning sciences to elevate how we learn.

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

Neuroscientist warns about how the SAT is changing today.

Instead of solving the real problems Gen Z students are facing, the standards are being lowered to make everything seem okay.

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

Full source: https://t.co/IcxY3jF9cO

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

Neuroscientist warns about how the SAT is changing today.

Instead of solving the real problems Gen Z students are facing, the standards are being lowered to make everything seem okay.

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

Education is not only about qualification. As Gert Biesta (2009, p. 39) argues, it also involves socialization and subjectification. Chatbots may support qualification, but they barely address the rest.

So perhaps AI tutors alone are not the answer.

https://t.co/GZC1vSjuWd

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

A lot of AI edtech products honestly feel the same: upload a PDF, get a summary, and chat with a bot on the side.

The quality is often mediocre, and many still do not take hallucinations seriously.

What bothers me more, though, is that there seems to be so little pedagogical thinking behind these tools. They are not really trying to solve deeper educational problems.

Instead, they market quick score gains to students instead of focusing on real learning, classroom engagement, or how understanding is actually built over time.

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

I’m not sure motivation is the only issue here.

As Gert Biesta (2009, p. 39) argues, education is not just about qualification. It also involves socialization and subjectification. Chatbots may help with qualification, but they barely address the rest.

So perhaps AI tutors alone are not the answer?

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

The idea of using AI as a tool for self-reflection originates from UNESCO’s report.

For those who are curious, you can read more here:

UNESCO’s report, AI and the Future of Education: Disruptions, Dilemmas and Directions: https://t.co/jl9arQjsHJ

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” — Albert Einstein

Many people believe better learning comes from chasing each new AI tool or model.

I thought that too, but I was wrong.

What mattered more was using AI well, not handing every task over to it. When I studied, the most helpful habit was asking “why” to understand the fundamentals, then using AI to reflect on my own thinking.

This is my recommendation for studying with AI: When you face problem Z,

1. First, do not ask AI for the answer right away.
2. Write down your own solution. It helps to use an X → Y format, where X is your reasoning and Y is your conclusion.
3. Then ask AI to review your thinking and offer a different perspective.

If your reasoning is wrong, AI can suggest thoughts you may not have considered. And if your reasoning depends on weaker sub-conclusions, AI may help you see that your foundational understanding is also flawed.

In that sense, the real value of AI is not just giving answers. It is helping you build metacognition.

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

@nutanc Why is it always non-engineers who brag about speed, while engineers are the ones cleaning up the mess caused by that kind of thinking?

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

@MattNoahSmith Well, I think we need to think differently. Are students really the problem? Maybe the assignments just weren’t engaging or motivating enough for them.

[Cory Brewer @CoryJBrewer]

It is becoming increasingly evident that the top reason teachers are getting burnt out and leaving the profession is student behavior.

Teachers deserve more support from their administrators and school boards to manage orderly classrooms.

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

Spent more time searching for education papers than actually reading them lately.

AI helps with recommendations, but the hallucination risk keeps me second-guessing every source.

Found ERIC, a free database dedicated to peer-reviewed education journals. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

https://t.co/ophmhDv6IJ

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

The science: https://t.co/WhbkRh8j4j

[Merlin @resetmerlin]

You don’t need a complex system to learn faster. You just need to talk to yourself more.

Research shows "self-explanation" (literally just explaining a fact back to yourself) is one of the most effective ways to actually remember what you read.