Bidirectional Human-AI Alignment in Education for Trustworthy Learning Environments
Hua Shen
TL;DR
This chapter addresses the risks and opportunities of AI in education by introducing bidirectional human–AI alignment, which treats AI as a collaborative partner that humans co-design and continuously steer. It presents a three-pronged pathway—alignment of values/goals/norms, technical design with guardrails, and ongoing evaluation and governance—to create trustworthy learning environments that emphasize equity, transparency, and student agency. The work outlines concrete methods in value-sensitive design, privacy protections, policy codes, and feedback mechanisms, plus the evolution of AI roles from tools to tutors, with implications for teachers and institutions. The practical impact is a roadmap for policymakers, developers, and educators to align AI with human-centered aims while enabling adaptive, responsible innovation.
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, offering unprecedented opportunities to personalize learning, enhance assessment, and support educators. Yet these opportunities also introduce risks related to equity, privacy, and student autonomy. This chapter develops the concept of bidirectional human-AI alignment in education, emphasizing that trustworthy learning environments arise not only from embedding human values into AI systems but also from equipping teachers, students, and institutions with the skills to interpret, critique, and guide these technologies. Drawing on emerging research and practical case examples, we explore AI's evolution from support tool to collaborative partner, highlighting its impacts on teacher roles, student agency, and institutional governance. We propose actionable strategies for policymakers, developers, and educators to ensure that AI advances equity, transparency, and human flourishing rather than eroding them. By reframing AI adoption as an ongoing process of mutual adaptation, the chapter envisions a future in which humans and intelligent systems learn, innovate, and grow together.