NEW-GEN TECHNOLOGY
on the Industrial Revolution that explores the technological advancements which marked the period, along with their social impact and environmental consequences. Such interdisciplinary projects would considerably enrich students’ understanding, besides providing the opportunity for teachers to collaborate in an unprecedented way and drive innovation in their instructional practices. Moving towards seamless learning The integration of AI in education is not only transforming the way we teach and learn. It is also paving the way for new forms of learning based on novel paradigms, among which seamless learning represents a promising direction. Seamless learning indicates a holistic and integrated learning experience that unfolds without interruption across different contexts, spaces and times. The term was introduced in 2006 by Professor Tak-Wai Chan of the National Central University in Taiwan to describe a learning model supported by mobile devices that allows students to learn continuously inside and outside the classroom, transitioning smoothly between formal and informal learning. This model emphasises the mobility and fluidity of learning and encourages students to take initiative and to connect experiences across multiple realms of knowledge. This concept is becoming increasingly important in the digital age, with new technologies unlocking unprecedented opportunities. In particular, the integration of AI and augmented reality (AR) plays a pivotal role in this respect. AI enables a high level of personalisation of the educational experience. AI-powered systems, for instance, can analyse data on students’ performance to provide customised feedback, additional resources and adaptive learning paths, helping students address learning gaps and realise their full potential. AR, on the other hand, is instrumental in delivering an immersive experience by creating an environment that combines the physical and digital worlds, thus advancing exploration-based learning. For instance, AR can be used in science education to visualise complex concepts, such as molecular structures or astronomical phenomena, making them more accessible and easier to understand. The combination of AI and AR also promotes a transdisciplinary approach to education. Basarab Nicolescu, one of the fathers of trans-disciplinarity, highlighted the importance of conceiving knowledge in terms of ‘layers’ stratified in the reality in which we are immersed. The synergy between AI and AR empowers students to navigate these layers seamlessly and to foster a deeper and more nuanced understanding of complicated subjects. Although it has not yet been fully achieved, seamless learning, supported by AI and AR and underpinned by a truly transdisciplinary perspective, represents the way forward for an educational model that is more accessible, engaging and effective – and one based on continuous, integrated and student‑driven learning.
BIOGRAPHIES
Nicola Gatti is a professor of computer science and engineering within the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering at the Politecnico di Milano. He is the founder and co‑director of the Italian Observatory on Artificial Intelligence, as well as one of the co-ordinators of the PNRR (Italy’s national recovery and resilience plan) project, Future AI Research, known as FAIR. In addition, Gatti co-founded two spin-offs from the Politecnico di Milano – WayNaute and ML Cube – which were included by Forbes Italia in its list of the Top 10 Italian AI start‑ups of 2022 Susanna Sancassani is the managing director of METID, the Innovation Teaching and Learning Task Force of the Politecnico di Milano; she is also adjoint professor at the PhD Polimi School in teaching strategies. Over the past few years, she has co-ordinated a working group called The Quality of Massive Open Online Courses, organised by the Conference of Italian University Rectors. Sancassani has authored a number of academic articles and books, including Designing Learning Innovation and The Sense of The Network
In other words, this approach provides students with the intellectual capabilities that are necessary to move beyond compartmentalised knowledge, empowering them to navigate the interconnectedness of global challenges with confidence. This shift is fundamental in addressing issues ranging from climate change and public health to social justice, which require integrated solutions that draw on insights from a broad array of disciplines. Remarkably, the MLT-enabled transdisciplinary approach benefits students and teachers alike. The latter can make the most of the platform to design stimulating and rich curricula, combining multiple disciplines. A history teacher, for instance, might collaborate with a science teacher to create a unit
Ambition | OCTOBER 2024 | 25
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