The Next Word: AI & Learners

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes the smartest presence in every classroom?

In this essential follow-up to their acclaimed first guide, The Next Word: AI and Teachers, Dr Nick Jackson and Matthew Esterman team up with Amy Wallace – a Year 12 graduate who brings the student voice to this urgent conversation about AI’s role in learning. The Next Word: AI & Learners moves beyond the basics to tackle the complex realities students face today, from banned apps to cognitive offloading, from deepfakes to digital wellbeing.

The authors dive deep into the science of learning and investigate the crucial question: is AI a helpful prosthetic or a dangerous crutch? Most importantly, this isn’t just another book about students – it’s a book with them. Amy’s perspective illuminates how young people actually want AI to shape their futures and what authentic learning looks like when machines can seemingly learn everything. With practical insights for educators and real-world tools for navigating education’s AI-integrated future, The Next Word: AI & Learners ensures you’re part of the conversation that’s reshaping how we think about learning itself.