Presentation Context
I was invited to present at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s (MSU Denver) GRADTALK series, a forum for discussing innovative approaches to graduate education. The presentation was well-received by faculty from across departments, generating substantive discussion about practical implementation strategies and philosophical implications for academic identity in an AI-integrated era. Thanks, again, to Dr. Inge Wefes for the invitation!
Abstract
This presentation challenges traditional notions of the “graduate learner” by proposing three progressive paradigms for understanding AI’s role in graduate education: AI as Tool, AI as Co-Creator, and AI as Co-Learner. Moving beyond bounded individual models, I argue for reconceptualizing graduate students as hybrid learning assemblages co-constituted with AI technologies in their scholarly practice.
The framework addresses critical questions about academic identity, research integrity, and assessment practices while offering practical strategies for faculty to thoughtfully integrate AI into graduate education. Rather than treating AI as external tools, this posthuman approach acknowledges the relational and distributed nature of all scholarship, providing ethical frameworks for navigating human-AI entanglements in advanced academic work.
Key Themes
- Paradigm Progression: Moving from AI as Tool → Co-Creator → Co-Learner
- Learning Assemblages: Reconceptualizing students as hybrid networks rather than bounded individuals
- Epistemic Considerations: Addressing risks of critical thinking erosion while embracing collaborative potential
- Assessment Evolution: Shifting from “Did they do it alone?” to “Did they engage thoughtfully?”
- Networked Wisdom: Developing ethical frameworks for human-AI scholarly collaboration
Presentation Materials
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Citation
@unpublished{straight2025,
author = {Straight, Ryan},
publisher = {Metropolitan State University of Denver},
title = {AI as {Co-Learner:} {Presenting} {Posthuman} {Approaches} to
{Graduate} {Education} at {MSU} {Denver}},
date = {2025-09-17},
url = {https://ryanstraight.com/posts/2025-09-17-msu-denver-gradtalk-ai-co-learner/},
langid = {en}
}