Use technology after learner effort to protect productive struggle¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report recommends giving learners space to generate their own thinking and ideas before introducing technology supports. When learners use LLMs to automate writing before initial sense-making, this 'can reduce both cognitive effort and ability to reflect upon and modify the automated output.' When learners work through sense-making first, they are better able to consider where the technology improves their initial thinking, using it as a partner and enabling deeper reflection.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Learning designs must provide space and sequencing for learners' own initial efforts before technology support is introduced

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• learners using LLMs and GenAI tools for writing and sense-making tasks

Target Learning Goals¶

• productive struggle, sense-making, reflection, self-regulated learning

Related Strategies¶

• Create Space for Students to Reflect
• Use prototyping tasks to help students unfamiliar with design-mode thinking share incomplete ideas
• Normalizing Struggle
• Normalizing Trouble
• Have learners bring their own thinking before using generative AI to enable productive struggle

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Mills, K., Noakes, S., Pattenhouse, M., Shell, A., & Vollavanh, A. (2025). Powerful Learning with Emerging Technology. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/274