Entangled intelligence? Distributed cognition, AI, and assessment validity

The proliferation of generative AI has sparked a crisis of inference in higher education. To date, and for good reason, the sector’s response has settled on a binary choice: secure the assessment by removing the tool (i.e., “Lane 1”) or permit the tool within existing frameworks (i.e., “Lane 2”). Both approaches, however, often rely on an outdated "internalist" model of learning that views cognition as a solo performance occurring strictly within the individual mind.

This seminar argues that the emergence of sophisticated AI agents necessitates a shift toward a distributed cognition framework. Drawing on recent research into "performance paradoxes" (in which AI boosts immediate task achievement while compromising durable learning), this session will explore how students' thinking infrastructure is being fundamentally restructured. When cognitive tools are genuinely integrated, they do not merely support thought; they constitute part of the thinking system itself.

We will move beyond the ‘AI as Oracle’ paradigm to consider ‘AI as Agentic Partner’, examining the implications for assessment. If the unit of analysis is no longer a single human but a hybrid human-machine entity, our trusted proxies for learning may no longer measure what we think they measure. The seminar will challenge participants to reconsider the hard question of assessment: how do we generate valid evidence of learning when the process of learning has itself been transformed?

Join us in person at Deakin Downtown or online to learn more about distributed cognition, AI agents, and the implications for assessment.

The main seminar session runs for one hour (2.00-3.00 pm AEST) and includes the seminar presentation as well as time for audience questions. If you only have an hour to spare, don't worry - you'll get the full experience in this main session!

At the conclusion of the main session, the discussion continues in an extended Q&A session (approx. 3.00-3.30 pm AEST). All audience members - both in-person and online - are welcome to remain at the seminar and participate in this extended conversation.

For in-person attendees, the seminar concludes with afternoon tea and opportunities for informal discussion.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Deakin Downtown, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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