Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar’s Khaled Harras shared his perspective on the evolving role of the educator in the age of artificial intelligence at a keynote address at Qatar University. Harras spoke at the 16th Annual Forum on Excellence in Teaching and Learning to an audience of Qatar University leadership and faculty. 

Harras’s presentation, titled “Shallow thinking in the age of deep learning: Reflections on the evolution of higher education,” outlined for the audience the historical shifts in educational paradigms, and the pivotal moment facing educators today. While AI offers unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning, educators are also faced with a potential decline in deep, meaningful learning. 

“I believe that if educators evolve into ‘knowledge coaches,’ we can ensure that our students are equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world,” he said. “Our actions will shape the future of education and determine whether we foster shallow thinking in our students, or true deep learning.”

Harras has been a member of the CMU-Q faculty for nearly 20 years. He is a teaching professor of computer science, and also serves as senior associate dean for faculty. As an expert in both artificial intelligence and higher education, Harras is often called upon to share his insight on the future of education in the era of artificial intelligence.