AI can give students more choice, personalize learning, and help them work more independently. But does that automatically make learning more student-centered?
In this episode of Student-Centered Shift, I sit down with Dr. Justin Jang to explore one of the biggest questions facing international educators right now: How do we use AI to increase student agency without outsourcing thinking, reducing collaboration, or leaving students isolated behind a screen?
Justin reminds us that student agency is about much more than giving students choices. It's about voice, ownership, relationships, and creating the conditions for learners to take greater responsibility for their learning.
Together, we explore how to:
- Use AI to strengthen student agency
- Avoid the trap of over-personalization
- Keep collaboration and relationships alive
- Rethink assessment in the age of AI
- Use AI to deepen—not replace—thinking
If you're an international educator experimenting with AI, this conversation will challenge you to look beyond the tools and ask a more important question: Is AI helping my students become more active owners of their learning?
Justin's Website: https://www.justinzh.com/
Connect with Justin: LinkedIn, Instagram, Email: justin1stmuchuan@gmail.com
Get the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Book: 'Where Is The Teacher?'
Justin's Bio: Justin Zhang, Ph.D., is a dedicated educator and educational leader specializing in educational technology and international education. Currently serving as Assistant Professor and Director of IBEC at Namseoul University, he brings extensive expertise from his previous role as Head of Department at an international school in Hong Kong. With a Ph.D. in Educational Technology and dual Master's degrees, Dr. Zhang is a registered teacher in both the US and UK who fulfills multiple roles within the International Baccalaureate Educator Network (Lead Educator, Field Representative, Programme Leader, Evaluation Leader, Consultant, workshop leader, etc.) and examines for international curricula including IB, IGCSE, and A-levels. His international teaching experience spans Beijing and Barcelona, complemented by his contributions to educational advancement through accreditation committees and academic publications.
