Augmenting Inquiry, Preserving the Core: Stenbom and Garrison on AI’s Role and Human-Centered Learning Within the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Framework

This dialogue with D. Randy Garrison and Stefan Stenbom revisits the foundational Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework in the context of rapid digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Originally conceived for text-based online learning, the framework’s core elements—Social, Cognitive, and Teaching Presence—remain robust guides for fostering deep, collaborative learning in today’s complex multimodal and multilayered environments. The conversation explores how these presences manifest differently across various media, acknowledging that while indicators may evolve, the underlying structure remains constant. A central theme is the integration of AI, viewed primarily as a tool capable of augmenting human roles within the existing CoI structure. AI can support teaching presence tasks, simulate social cues, and even assist cognitive processes, but rather than constituting a new presence, it highlights the robustness and adaptability of the existing model in accommodating new technologies. However, maintaining the authenticity of community and safeguarding genuine emotional connection in AI-rich environments are critical challenges. The conversation highlights the potential risk of AI flattening inquiry into mere information assimilation if not implemented thoughtfully. Ultimately, the CoI framework is presented as an essential guide, emphasising the preservation of human agency, critical reflection, and collaborative meaning-making as core educational purposes, even as technology advances. The need to deliberately slow down inquiry for reflection in fast-paced, AI-driven contexts is further stressed.