AI IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF LEARNING TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE AISLTM FRAMEWORK
Dr. Aruna K, Assistant Professor, Dr. Mehak Gulati, Assistant Professor, Dr. Kasinathan S, Professor
Centre for Distance and Online Education, Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education by redefining how learners’ access, process, and apply knowledge. While technological adoption is expanding rapidly, less attention has been paid to how learners and educators experience this transformation. This study explores the evolving relationship between AI tools and learning behavior in higher education using a qualitative interpretivist approach. Drawing on Transformative Learning Theory and Connectivism, this research examines how critical reflection, networked knowledge, and ethical awareness mediate learners’ engagement with AI-driven environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with learners and educators from diverse disciplines to capture the nuanced experiences of AI integration. Thematic analysis revealed four progressive stages—Exposure and Curiosity, Adoption and Adaptation, Reflection and Reorientation, and Transformation and Integration— that collectively illustrate the cyclical journey of learning transformation. This study proposes the AI-Supported Learning Transformation Model (AISLTM), which depicts how learners transition from initial experimentation to deep, ethical, and reflective use of AI. Comparative analysis revealed distinct yet convergent trajectories among online and offline learners, affirming that AI-driven transformation integrates both individual reflection and collaborative learning within the AISLTM framework. The findings highlight that trust, creativity, and institutional support are key mediators in enabling this transformation. This study contributes an empirically grounded framework for understanding how AI fosters critical reflection and self-directed learning, offering insights for educators, policymakers, and institutions aiming to embed AI ethically and effectively in higher education.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Higher Education, Transformative Learning, Connectivism, Qualitative Research, Ethical AI, Online learning.
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 11 2025: 121 – 152