Trends & Emerging Technology

Education in the AI Era: Asking Questions Systematically Matters More Than Simply Getting Answers

Share this article
LINEFacebook

Robin’s commentary (source and originality unconfirmed; as of March 2023)

Storage information

Bookmarks and reading positions are stored in this browser. Manage and back them up in My Reading.

Collected in Robin Shen’s Field Notes · Content type and attribution are shown above

English translation of the Chinese post originally published 2023-03-20. Translated 2026-10-31 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文

Reading guide

The post argues for starting with a change in how we teach. Traditional large classes can become one-on-one, tutor-style question-and-answer exchanges in the AI era. Taiwanese students, who have not been accustomed to asking questions, must now actively develop and organize their own questions. In the past, the worry was that a teacher could not answer. Now the worry is that we cannot formulate questions well: asking the right question matters more than being given an answer directly. If an explanation is unclear, students can keep asking, request a different explanation, ask for language an elementary school student can understand, or seek more depth and examples. The author argues that education in this new era needs to be redesigned.

Key points

  • Traditional large classes can become one-on-one, tutor-style question-and-answer exchanges.
  • Students need to learn to ask questions systematically and in a structured way.
  • When an answer is unclear, students can ask AI to explain it differently or at a different level.
  • Education needs to be redesigned; this reflects a view from March 2023.
A magnifying lens examines layered signals and data textures, suggesting technological exploration and judgment.
Trends & technologyThematic illustration · AI generated

Full text — English translation

Start by changing how we teach. First, in the AI era, traditional large-class teaching can become a one-on-one, tutor-style exchange of questions and answers. Taiwanese students need to learn to ask questions “systematically” and “in a structured way.” They have not been accustomed to asking questions, but in this new era, you must actively develop and organize your own questions. In the past, you might have worried that a teacher would be unable to answer. Now the concern is no longer whether the teacher can answer, but whether you can ask the question well. Asking the right question matters more than being given an answer directly. Also, if you do not understand an answer, you can keep asking, and keep asking. You can ask this AI tutor to explain it another way, explain it at a level a child in a particular elementary school grade can understand, go into more depth, or give a few examples. Education in this new era needs to be redesigned.

These articles are personal notes, book excerpts, and collected reprints. Figures and events reflect the time of the original publication, are not current information, and do not constitute investment advice.

Share this article
LINEFacebook

DISCUSSION

Reader comments

What did this article make you think about? Different perspectives and constructive criticism are welcome.

Comments are public immediately. Do not include personal contact details or external links. Automated checks block suspicious solicitation, prohibited transactions and spam; they can make mistakes.

0 / 2000

Comments load when you reach this section.

    Administrator sign-in

    My reading notes

    These notes stay in this browser and are not published. Writing a note also saves the article. Back up or move your notes in My Reading.

    Manage my bookmarks and notes →

    STAY CURIOUS

    Save a good question for your next visit.

    Save this article, or follow the Facebook page and RSS feed for additions. Historical articles retain their original publication dates.

    Browse All articlesSearch articles and full text →