Hi Astelle, thanks so much for your thoughtful reflection.
This is such an insightful point that I hadn’t fully thought about! The modeling point is so valid—you’re right that if kids are constantly interacting with tools that just agree with everything, that’s teaching them something about how conversations work (or don’t work).
Your VSPE framework sounds really interesting. I’m curious about the “submission” component. Is that about the AI acknowledging when it’s uncertain or wrong? That seems like it may be a key for teaching intellectual humility?
And it feels so urgent too. Even 10 years back in my school, moral development was considered one of the most important aspect, but honestly other schools (at least at that time) didn’t have this component seriously taken. If without-an-AI world needed it so badly, the with-AI world needs it more than urgently.
I’d love to read more about your work whenever you’re ready to share!
Thanks again for your kind words, it encourages me to think more about these questions!
Hi Era, thank you so much for your generous reply; it means a lot to me!
Yes, your interpretation of “submission” is spot on! That component is about helping AI systems model intellectual humility, including the ability to acknowledge uncertainty or yield when presented with stronger evidence. I see it as a counterpart to “empowerment”—not about blind deference, but a kind of grounded receptivity that helps prevent both arrogance and helplessness in response dynamics. Ideally, “submission” serves a dual purpose, at its most complex level:
1) the AI submits to human authority and absolute truth as they align, and
2) the AI helps us to submit to what we can’t control in our lives.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how moral modeling is subtly encoded in the tone and framing of AI outputs. If students grow up with systems that never admit fault or vulnerability, it risks reinforcing exactly the wrong kind of confidence. So I really resonated with your reflection on how moral development was emphasized in your school, and how urgently it’s needed now.
I’m working on writing up more detailed examples of my scaffolding structure soon, and I’ll make sure to share once I do. Your encouragement genuinely helps keep me going, so thank you again!
Hi Astelle, thanks so much for your thoughtful reflection.
This is such an insightful point that I hadn’t fully thought about! The modeling point is so valid—you’re right that if kids are constantly interacting with tools that just agree with everything, that’s teaching them something about how conversations work (or don’t work).
Your VSPE framework sounds really interesting. I’m curious about the “submission” component. Is that about the AI acknowledging when it’s uncertain or wrong? That seems like it may be a key for teaching intellectual humility?
And it feels so urgent too. Even 10 years back in my school, moral development was considered one of the most important aspect, but honestly other schools (at least at that time) didn’t have this component seriously taken. If without-an-AI world needed it so badly, the with-AI world needs it more than urgently.
I’d love to read more about your work whenever you’re ready to share!
Thanks again for your kind words, it encourages me to think more about these questions!
-Era
Hi Era, thank you so much for your generous reply; it means a lot to me!
Yes, your interpretation of “submission” is spot on! That component is about helping AI systems model intellectual humility, including the ability to acknowledge uncertainty or yield when presented with stronger evidence. I see it as a counterpart to “empowerment”—not about blind deference, but a kind of grounded receptivity that helps prevent both arrogance and helplessness in response dynamics. Ideally, “submission” serves a dual purpose, at its most complex level:
1) the AI submits to human authority and absolute truth as they align, and
2) the AI helps us to submit to what we can’t control in our lives.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how moral modeling is subtly encoded in the tone and framing of AI outputs. If students grow up with systems that never admit fault or vulnerability, it risks reinforcing exactly the wrong kind of confidence. So I really resonated with your reflection on how moral development was emphasized in your school, and how urgently it’s needed now.
I’m working on writing up more detailed examples of my scaffolding structure soon, and I’ll make sure to share once I do. Your encouragement genuinely helps keep me going, so thank you again!
-Astelle