Curiosity, Critical Thinking and AI: What Our Students Learned from Professor Rose Luckin

"Will AI take over the world?"

"Is AI bad for the environment?"

"Will AI replace teachers?"

These were just some of the questions our Year 5 and 6 students asked when they recently met Professor Rose Luckin, one of the world's leading experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and education.

With more than 30 years of experience advising governments, policymakers and global organisations on the future of learning, Professor Luckin has helped shape international conversations about how AI can be used in education. Her visit to Dover Court formed part of our ongoing commitment to helping students understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with emerging technologies. Over the past academic year, she has also shared her expertise with our teachers, Secondary students and parent community.

Asking the Questions That Matter

What stood out most during the session was the curiosity and thoughtfulness of our students. Throughout the session, students explored some of the biggest questions surrounding AI today.

Could it become too powerful? What impact does it have on the environment? What role will it play in schools and workplaces in the future?

Professor Luckin explained that these are many of the same questions researchers, educators and technology experts are grappling with around the world.

For students, it was a powerful reminder that learning is not always about having the answers. Often, it begins with asking thoughtful questions and being willing to explore different perspectives.

Three Simple Messages for Our Students on Using AI Wisely

Professor Luckin left students with three key messages that were both practical and memorable:

• Check it - AI can be wrong. Students were encouraged to verify information, question sources and think critically about the answers they receive.
• Ask it - Use AI to help you think, not just give answers. AI can be a useful tool for exploring ideas, sparking curiosity and supporting learning when used thoughtfully.
• Own it - AI doing the work is not the same as learning. True understanding comes from thinking, practising, making mistakes and developing knowledge for yourself.

Perhaps the most important question she encouraged students to ask was this: Is technology helping you think more, or think less?

"Professor Luckin reminded students that AI cannot feel emotions or have real-life experiences. It has never met a cat, eaten a meal, felt nervous before an event or been proud of achieving something difficult. While AI can generate information, it cannot experience the world like people can."- Becky Hunter, Assistant Head of Primary, EdTech and Assessment

Learning How to Think, Not What to Think

Professor Luckin's visit reflected something we place great importance on at Dover Court. Across our school, students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate ideas, explore different perspectives and explain their thinking. Whether in a NEST classroom, a Primary IPC lesson, or a Secondary discussion, learning is not simply about finding the right answer.

It's about understanding why.

When students develop the confidence to question information, evaluate evidence and think independently, they become more capable learners and more responsible users of technology.

The conversation with Professor Luckin provided a real-world example of these skills in action.

The Skills AI Can't Match

One message from Professor Luckin resonated strongly with our approach at Dover Court: while AI is a powerful tool, it cannot replace the qualities that make us human.

Throughout the discussion, students demonstrated curiosity, communication skills, critical thinking and the confidence to challenge ideas respectfully. These are the qualities that help young people navigate an increasingly complex world, whether they are engaging with new technologies, tackling real-world problems or collaborating with others.

As Professor Luckin explained, AI can process vast amounts of information at incredible speed, but it cannot draw on lived experience, build meaningful relationships, exercise human judgement or truly understand emotions. It cannot feel proud after overcoming a challenge, nervous before a performance or excited when discovering something new.

These experiences shape how we think, solve problems, collaborate with others and make decisions.

As part of Nord Anglia Education, we are committed to nurturing these uniquely human skills alongside academic success. This approach is informed by Nord Anglia's global research partnership with Boston College, which explores how schools can best develop skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration and independence. Through inquiry, collaboration, creativity and opportunities to engage with experts and real-world issues, students learn not only how to use technology, but how to think critically about it.

Professor Luckin's visit brought these ideas to life. Our students were not simply learning about AI; they were practising the very skills that technology cannot replicate.

Preparing Students for a Changing Future

The future is impossible to predict, but one thing is certain: today's students will live and work in a world where AI plays an increasingly important role.

At Dover Court, our aim is not only to help students understand technology but to think critically about how and when to use it. Experiences like this encourage students to engage with complex ideas, consider different viewpoints and develop the confidence to form their own informed opinions.

We are incredibly grateful to Professor Luckin for sharing her expertise and inspiring our students. The questions from our Year 5 and 6 learners showed exactly the kind of curiosity, critical thinking and independence that will serve them well in the years ahead.

Interested in learning more about the human skills that matter most in an age of AI? Read our article: Skills AI Can't Match: How We Prepare Your Child for the Future at Dover Court International School.