The rise of AI in education has brought convenience and accessibility, but it also underscores a vital truth: foundational knowledge and expertise remain irreplaceable. Recent findings show that simplified AI summaries improve performance by 7% for less experienced users, while detailed outputs boost performance by 18% for advanced users. That’s an increase of almost 160%.

Although the research wasn't specific to education, I think the connection can be made that expertise and foundational knowledge is MORE important today than ever before.

Why Foundational Knowledge Matters More Than Ever

Students often see AI as a convenient shortcut — a way to bypass time-consuming tasks like reading, research, or problem-solving. While AI can streamline certain processes, this mindset risks diminishing the value of actually learning the material.

Relying solely on AI outputs may leave students with surface-level understanding, which can both hinder their ability to think critically and adapt to new information.

For example, a student using AI to summarize a book might miss key themes or deeper connections that are essential for thoughtful analysis. Or, a student working through a history lesson might rely on AI to provide a quick summary of an event. And while that might be helpful, if the student lacks a deeper understanding of the content, it will make it difficult to connect the event to the broader historical understanding.

Rethinking Our In-Person Strategies

Teaching students to view AI as an assistant — not a stand-in — will help them understand that foundational knowledge and deeper connections remain critical, even today. By encouraging this type of balanced approach, we can show students that true mastery comes from combining AI’s efficiency with their own effort, curiosity, and critical thought.

Teaching the importance of even foundational knowledge in an AI-driven world, where students can use AI for virtually everything, won’t be easy. It will require all of us in education to rethink our in-person strategies to use with students.

Here are three things we can do proactively when planning for in-person learning:

1. Focus on Critical Thinking Skills. AI can provide answers, but it can’t replace the ability to think critically. As a teacher, plan on asking more “why” and “how” questions. Encourage students to explain the reasoning behind AI-generated outputs or decisions.

2. Emphasize Process Over Results. When students use AI to complete tasks, the focus should shift to understanding how it arrived at the answer, not just the answer.

3. Require step-by-step explanations. Have students document their thought process, even when using AI for assistance. One easy way to do this is to have students submit their chat URL in a works cited page.

The integration of AI into education presents both opportunities and challenges. While AI can enhance efficiency and provide useful tools for learning, it should never replace the foundational knowledge that underpins true understanding and critical thinking.

Working with students so that they see AI as a supportive assistant rather than a shortcut, we can help them better leverage this new technology. As we rethink strategies for in-person instruction, emphasizing critical thinking, process-driven learning, and accountability in AI use will be key to preparing students for a future where both knowledge and technology go hand in hand. Ultimately, the goal is to equip students not just to use AI, but to thrive in an AI-driven world.