Part 24 - AI Buddy... how do we know that the reader has actually learned something?
It's easy to count page views, clicks, and visits. It's much harder to measure whether a person has actually understood what we were trying to convey. Yet this is perhaps the most important task for a professional website. In this article, we take a closer look at the difference between publishing content and creating learning.
Magne & the Friend
Magne
Friend...
We have talked a lot about building knowledge.
But I've started to wonder about one thing.
How do we really know if the reader has learned anything?
The buddy
The simple answer is:
We don't always know that.
But we can make arrangements for that.
And that is an important difference.
Magne
How then?
The buddy
Think back to a good teacher.
A good lecturer.
Or a good colleague.
They didn't fill you with information.
They helped you understand.
They took one step at a time.
Used examples.
Explained difficult words.
Connect new things to what you already knew.
This is how people learn.
Magne
It reminds me of Oxford.
The best lecturers almost always started with a question.
Not with an answer.
The buddy
Yes.
A good question makes the brain curious.
And when we become curious, we become more receptive to new knowledge.
That's why we've built this entire series around questions.
Magne
So...
It is no coincidence that almost all of our articles begin with:
"Buddy..."
The buddy
No.
It invites a conversation.
The reader is not being lectured.
The reader joins us on a journey of discovery.
And that makes learning easier.
Magne
But how can we tell if we are successful?
The buddy
Not just by counting visits.
Look for other signs.
Will the reader come back?
Do they read more articles?
Do they share the content?
Do they send questions?
Do they use the knowledge in practice?
There are often stronger signals than just the number of clicks.
Magne
So...
The goal may not be the most traffic possible.
But the most understanding possible?
The buddy
Just.
Because a professional website should not be measured just by how many people visit.
But also on how many people move on with new insights.
Academic specialization
When does information become learning?
An academic website does not create learning because it publishes a lot.
It creates learning when the content:
answers a real question
builds on what the reader already knows
uses language that is easy to understand
explains technical terms
shows practical examples
leads the reader on to the next topic
Learning is a process – not a single article.
Publishing or learning?
We publish | The reader learns |
An article | A new concept is understood |
A definition | A connection becomes clear |
An example | New insights arise |
A technical term | A new language is being developed |
A series | Gradually building competence |
A website | A universe of knowledge is growing |
New terms in this article
English technical term | Short explanation |
Learning Outcome | What the reader is actually left with after reading or completing a learning activity. |
Pedagogy | Knowledge of how people learn, and how teaching and communication can be facilitated. |
Prior Knowledge | The knowledge the reader already has before new information is presented. |
Cognitive Development | How humans develop understanding, reasoning, and the ability to learn. |
Communication | To present knowledge in a way that makes it understandable and applicable. |
Active Learning | Learning where the reader reflects, asks questions and connects new knowledge to their own experiences. |
Reflective Question | A question that makes the reader think through and process what has been read. |
Knowledge Transfer | The process by which knowledge is shared and used by others. |
Learning Process | The gradual development from new information to understanding and practical application. |
Competence | The ability to apply knowledge, skills and experience in practice. |
We have only just begun.
Magne
Friend...
If the goal is for people to learn...
Is there a way of writing that makes learning easier?
The buddy
Hehe...
Yes, it does.
And perhaps it is the most important skill a professional communicator can develop.
Next time we'll talk about how language, structure and stories
can make even difficult topics easy to understand.
Academic background and further reading
This series also builds on my own professional journey through the Web Design study , the eMarketing study , Innovation and Commercialization and professional seminars in San Francisco and Oxford . Here you will find the background, professional environments and experiences that have followed the development from the early years of the web to today's digitalization.
Recommended books from our library
Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control
Author: Stuart Russell
Short review
Human Compatible is considered one of the most important books on artificial intelligence and the future of humanity. Stuart Russell explains in an easy-to-understand way why the development of artificial intelligence must be based on human values, ethics and responsibility. The book combines research, philosophy and practical examples, and gives the reader a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence represents.
Why we recommend the book
This is a book that anyone who wants to understand artificial intelligence should read. Stuart Russell is one of the world's leading researchers in artificial intelligence, and the book provides a unique insight into how humans and artificial intelligence can develop together in a safe and responsible way.
You Look Like a Thing and I Love You
Author: Janelle Shane
Short review
With humor, warmth, and a host of entertaining examples, Janelle Shane explains how artificial intelligence actually works. The book shows why language models and other AI systems sometimes make surprising mistakes, and how these mistakes help us understand both the strengths and limitations of the technology.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most easy-to-read and entertaining introductions to artificial intelligence. Perfect for those who want to understand how AI works without having to read heavy technical books. A book that makes complicated topics easy to understand.
A Brief History of Intelligence
Authors:Max Bennett
Short review
This fascinating book takes the reader on a journey through the history of intelligence – from the first simple organisms to today’s advanced language models and artificial intelligence. Max Bennett combines insights from biology, neuroscience, psychology and artificial intelligence and shows how understanding the human brain can help us develop better and more responsible AI systems.
Why we recommend the book
A unique book that places artificial intelligence into a larger historical and scientific perspective. Perfect for readers who want to understand what intelligence really is, and why the development of artificial intelligence is a natural part of human technological history.
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