Curriculum Evolution in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Document Type : پژوهشی

Author

• alireza hooshmand

PhD Graduate in Curriculum Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/fedu.2025.89102.1360

Abstract

Abstract
This study explores curriculum changes in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) through the lens of "Curriculum Evolution." Positioned at the intersection of philosophy and science, AI is driving profound transformations across various aspects of life. As AI continues to expand, a key challenge for education is to integrate AI while preserving fundamental educational principles. A pivotal shift in curriculum development involves moving away from rigid paradigms and instead adapting to evolving conditions, recognizing AI's limitations in fully managing educational processes. Adopting a philosophical approach and a structured chain of arguments, this paper examines the evolution of curricula and their core elements. As a result, "Curriculum Evolution" is proposed as a dynamic framework for navigating the AI era. Additionally, we outline the key characteristics of an evolutionary curriculum, including responsiveness to educational experiences, integration of diverse agents, multiple monitoring mechanisms, transdisciplinary approaches, autopoiesis, and self-regulation. These features are aligned with fundamental AI principles such as data-driven analysis, networking, machine learning, genetic algorithms, autonomy, fuzzy logic, and graph theory.

Keywords

• Artificial Intelligence
• Curriculum
• evolutionary curriculum

Main Subjects

• Educational Philosophy

---

References

Ahmad, S. F., Alam, M. M., Rahmat, M. K., Mubarik, M. S., & Hyder, S. I. (2022). Academic and administrative role of artificial intelligence in education. Sustainability, 14(3), 1101. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031101

Alpaydin, E. (2020). Introduction to machine learning. MIT press.

Bali, M. M. E. I., Kumalasani, M. P., & Yunilasari, D. (2022). Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Perspicacity Relation between Educators and Students. Journal of Innovation in Educational and Cultural Research, 3(2), 146-152. https://doi.org/10.46843/jiecr.v3i2.88

Bellini, V., Cascella, M., Cutugno, F., Russo, M., Lanza, R., Compagnone, C., & Bignami, E. (2022). Understanding basic principles of artificial intelligence: a practical guide for intensivists. Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 93(5). https://doi.org/10.23750%2Fabm.v93i5.13626

Bellman, R. E. (1978). Artificial intelligence: can computers think? In. Boyd & Fraser Publishing Company.

Benjamin, H. R. W. (1939). Saber-tooth curriculum, including other lectures in the history of paleolithic education. McGraw- Hill.

Bonk, C. J., & Wiley, D. A. (2020, 2020/08/01). Preface: Reflections on the waves of emerging learning technologies. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(4), 1595-1612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09809-x

Butt, R., Siddiqui, H., Soomro, R. A., & Asad, M. M. (2020). Integration of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and IOTs in academia: a state-of-the-art review on the concept of Education 4.0 in Pakistan. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 17(4), 337-354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ITSE-02-2020-0022

Celik, I. (2023). Towards Intelligent-TPACK: An empirical study on teachers’ professional knowledge to ethically integrate artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools into education. Computers in Human Behavior, 138, 107468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107468

Chen, L., Chen, P., & Lin, Z. (2020). Artificial intelligence in education: A review. Ieee Access, 8, 75264-75278. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2988510

Chiu, T. K., Xia, Q., Zhou, X., Chai, C. S., & Cheng, M. (2023). Systematic literature review on opportunities, challenges, and future research recommendations of artificial intelligence in education. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 4, 100118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2022.100118

Churchland, P. M. (1984). Matter and consciousness (A. Gholami, Trans.). Nashre Markaz (In Persian).

Cope, B., Kalantzis, M., & Searsmith, D. (2021). Artificial intelligence for education: Knowledge and its assessment in AI-enabled learning ecologies. Educational philosophy and theory, 53(12), 1229-1245. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2020.1728732

Devi, J. S., Sreedhar, M. B., Arulprakash, P., Kazi, K., & Radhakrishnan, R. (2022). A path towards child-centric Artificial Intelligence based Education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 14(3), 9915-9922. http://dx.doi.org/10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I3.1145

Dogan, M. E., Goru Dogan, T., & Bozkurt, A. (2023). The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in online learning and distance education processes: A systematic review of empirical studies. Applied Sciences, 13(5), 3056. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053056

Faresta, R. A. (2024). AI-Powered Education: Exploring the Potential of Personalised Learning for Students' Needs in Indonesia Education. Path of Science, 10(5), 3012-3022. https://doi.org/10.22178/pos.104-19

Foltynek, T., Bjelobaba, S., Glendinning, I., Khan, Z. R., Santos, R., Pavletic, P., & Kravjar, J. (2023). ENAI Recommendations on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in Education. 19(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-023-00133-4

Gardner, J., O'Leary, M., & Yuan, L. (2021). Artificial intelligence in educational assessment:‘Breakthrough? Or buncombe and ballyhoo?’. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 37(5), 1207-1216. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12577

Goldberg, D. (1989). Genetic algorithms in search, optimization, and machine learning. Addison-Wesley.

Havrda, M. (2020). Artificial intelligence’s role in community engagement within the democratic process. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 3(4), 437-441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-020-00100-8

Haykin, S. (1998). Neural networks: a comprehensive foundation. Prentice Hall PTR.

Holmes, W., Bialik, M., & Fadel, C. (2019). Artificial intelligence in education promises and implications for teaching and learning. Center for Curriculum Redesign.

Hooshmand, A. (2021). Implications for Curriculum Theorizing Inspired by the Neuro-Phenomenology Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM)]. Mashhad, Iran

Kuleto, V., Ilić, M., Dumangiu, M., Ranković, M., Martins, O. M., Păun, D., & Mihoreanu, L. (2021). Exploring opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence and machine learning in higher education institutions. Sustainability, 13(18), 10424. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810424

Limna, P., Jakwatanatham, S., Siripipattanakul, S., Kaewpuang, P., & Sriboonruang, P. (2022). A review of artificial intelligence (AI) in education during the digital era. Advance Knowledge for Executives, 1(1), 1-9. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID4160798_code4971864.pdf?abstractid=4160798&mirid=1

Luckin, R., & Cukurova, M. (2019). Designing educational technologies in the age of AI: A learning sciences‐driven approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 50(6), 2824-2838. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12861

Mircea, M., Stoica, M., & Ghilic-Micu, B. (2021). Investigating the impact of the internet of things in higher education environment. Ieee Access, 9, 33396-33409. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3060964

Nemorin, S., Vlachidis, A., Ayerakwa, H. M., & Andriotis, P. (2023). AI hyped? A horizon scan of discourse on artificial intelligence in education (AIED) and development. Learning, Media and Technology, 48(1), 38-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2022.2095568

Nilsson, N. J. (1998). Artificial intelligence: a new synthesis. Morgan Kaufmann.

Norvig, P., & Russell, S. J. (2010). Intelligenza artificiale (fourth ed.). https://people.engr.tamu.edu/guni/csce421/files/AI_Russell_Norvig.pdf

Ouyang, F., & Jiao, P. (2021). Artificial intelligence in education: The three paradigms. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100020

Pedro, F., Subosa, M., Rivas, A., & Valverde, P. (2019). Artificial intelligence in education: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. http://repositorio.minedu.gob.pe/bitstream/handle/20.500.12799/6533/Artificial%20intelligence%20in%20education%20challenges%20and%20opportunities%20for%20sustainable%20development.pdf

Randhawa, G. K., & Jackson, M. (2020). The role of artificial intelligence in learning and professional development for healthcare professionals. Healthcare Management Forum, 33(1), 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/0840470419869032

Russell, S. J., & Norvig, P. (2016). Artificial intelligence: a modern approach. Pearson.

Salas-Pilco, S. Z., & Yang, Y. (2022). Artificial intelligence applications in Latin American higher education: a systematic review. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00326-w

Searle, J. R. (1980). Minds, brains, and programs. Behavioral and brain sciences, 3(3), 417-424. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X00005756

Seren, M., & Ö–ZCAN, Z. E. (2021). Post pandemic education: distance education to artificial intelligence based education: post pandemic education. International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 13(1), 212-225.

Seren, M., & ÖZCAN, Z. E. (2021). Post pandemic education: distance education to artificial intelligence based education: post pandemic education. International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 13(1), 212-225 https://ijci.globets.org/index.php/IJCI/article/view/568/237

Seufert, S., Guggemos, J., & Sailer, M. (2021). Technology-related knowledge, skills, and attitudes of pre-and in-service teachers: The current situation and emerging trends. Computers in Human Behavior, 115, 106552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106552

Shabani Varaki, B., & Hooshmand, A. (2021). Autopoietic Curriculum in the Age of Outbreak of Pandemic Covid-19 and Corona-Life. Philosophy of Education, 5(5), 7-27. (In Persian). http://pesi.saminatech.ir/Journal/DownloadFile/35031

Shah, P. (2023). AI and the Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. John Wiley & Sons.

Su, J., & Yang, W. (2023). Unlocking the power of ChatGPT: A framework for applying generative AI in education. ECNU Review of Education, 6(3), 355-366. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311231168423

Sultana, N., & Tamanna, M. (2022). Evaluating the potential and challenges of iot in education and other sectors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The case of Bangladesh. Technology in society, 68, 101857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101857

Tahmasebi, M. (2006). The basic philosophical approaches in artificial intelligence. Wisdom and Philosophy, 2( 6), 25-47. (In Persian). , 2(6), 25-47. https://doi.org/10.22054/wph.2006.6672

Thille, C., Schneider, E., Kizilcec, R. F., Piech, C., Halawa, S. A., & Greene, D. K. (2014). The future of data-enriched assessment. Research & Practice in Assessment, 9, 5-16. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1062812.pdf

Ucer, S., Ozyer, T., & Alhajj, R. (2022, 2022/09/08). Explainable artificial intelligence through graph theory by generalized social network analysis-based classifier. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 15210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19419-7

Velarde, G. (2020). Artificial intelligence and its impact on the fourth industrial revolution: a review. arXiv preprint arXiv:2011.03044. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2011.03044

Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019, 2019/10/28). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education – where are the educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16(1), 1-27. . https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0

Zhang, K., & Aslan, A. B. (2021). AI technologies for education: Recent research & future directions. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100025