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First Edition — January 2026

The Learn-It-All Educator

This guidebook provides practical frameworks for higher education faculty to integrate AI thoughtfully into their teaching practice. Drawing on neuroscience research, educational theory, and real-world implementation experience, it offers four core frameworks: Cognitive Triage (managing educator workload), The Intelligent Gearbox (understanding AI capabilities), The Cognitive Gym (designing learning for brain development), and The Intelligent Simpleton (cultivating a learn-it-all mindset). The guidebook emphasizes training brains rather than replacing them, offering concrete strategies for using AI to enhance rather than diminish critical thinking and deep learning.

By Dr. Szymon Machajewski

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The Learn-It-All Educator

A Guidebook for Training Brains,
Not Replacing Them

Rethinking AI in Higher Education

Brain Illustration

Dr. Szymon Machajewski

Lansing Community College

Center for Teaching Excellence

Guidebook Overview

Watch a brief introduction to the frameworks and ideas in this guidebook.

What is the Cognitive Gym?

From thinking illness, health, to fitness.

AI can write essays, solve problems, and produce polished work. So what's left for students to learn?

MIT researchers found that heavy AI users showed significantly weaker neural connectivity than independent writers. After four months, they performed measurably worse on cognitive tests.

— Kosmyna et al., 2025, arXiv:2506.08872

The question isn't whether to use AI. It's whether we use it as an elevator that skips the climb—or a gym that builds strength.

Four Frameworks for the AI Age

Practical tools you can implement immediately—not theory, but strategies that work. Click each chapter to preview and download.

01

Cognitive Triage

Distinguish FLUFF (work worth delegating) from SPARK (ideas worth thinking). Reclaim time for high-impact pedagogy.

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02

The Intelligent Gearbox

Move beyond basic prompts. Learn the progression from one-shot to agentic prompting—and discover why it improves your teaching too.

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03

The Cognitive Gym

Design assignments that add friction, not remove it. The AI Audit, VINE framework, and progressive overload build real skills.

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04

The Intelligent Simpleton

Overcome the ego barrier. Use AI as a judgment-free zone for learning. The true master is a student for life.

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Written for educators who want to engage thoughtfully—not resist blindly or surrender completely

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Faculty designing AI-aware syllabi and assignments

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Instructional designers rethinking assessment

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Department chairs navigating AI policy

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Teaching centers leading faculty development

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Technical programs where verification is safety

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Anyone who believes good teaching still matters

SM

Dr. Szymon Machajewski

Associate Director of Academic Technology, UIC · Faculty Fellow, Lansing Community College

An award-winning educator and AI strategist with two decades of experience across community colleges and research universities. Winner of the Amazon AI Hackathon, U.S. patent holder in educational gamification, and author of work appearing in EDUCAUSE Review, Inside Higher Ed, and UNESCO publications. He serves on the EDSAFE AI Alliance Council and the AI Companions Task Force shaping future AI standards for education.

Selected Publications

Research and thought leadership on AI, learning analytics, and educational technology.

Books & Book Chapters

Journal Articles & Essays

Reports & Expert Panels

Ready to rethink AI in your teaching?

42 pages of practical frameworks, sample prompts, and assignment designs. Free to download, share, and adapt.

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Licensed CC BY 4.0 · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18425284