Global Challenges and Opportunities of Collaborative Intelligence in Education

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is profoundly transforming teaching, learning, and assessment. This research proposal emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives to explore AI's role in education, aiming to foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, AI developers, and educators. While AI offers new opportunities for personalization, feedback, and efficiency, its integration raises essential questions about the nature of the educational act and the evolving role of teachers in algorithm-supported environments. This Research Topic introduces the concept of collaborative intelligence, understood as a dynamic partnership between humans and AI that enhances learning while preserving human values, ethical responsibility, and pedagogical judgment. By fostering interdisciplinary perspectives, the Topic aims to explore how AI reshapes professional identities, decision-making, and the teacher–student relationship. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), this Research Topic examines how technological innovation can be integrated responsibly to support equitable, inclusive, and ethically grounded educational ecosystems.

The goal of this Research Topic is to explore how collaborative intelligence can redefine educational ecosystems in response to the global challenges created by the rapid integration of AI. The central issue lies in balancing algorithmic efficiency with the human dimension of pedagogy: how can AI support learning without diminishing teacher autonomy, critical thinking, or ethical responsibility?

At the same time, the Topic aims to highlight opportunities for human–AI collaboration to strengthen inclusion, learner motivation, creativity, and well-being. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4, the aim is to identify responsible strategies through which AI can contribute to equitable and high-quality education for all. To achieve this, we invite contributions proposing theoretical frameworks, empirical evidence, innovative pedagogical models, and policy recommendations that emphasize responsible AI integration. The ultimate goal is to build a robust knowledge base that guides the values-centered and ethical incorporation of AI into education.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions that investigate how collaborative intelligence can be conceptualized, implemented, and evaluated across diverse educational settings. We particularly seek theoretical papers, empirical studies, systematic or scoping reviews, design-based research, policy analyses, and practice-oriented contributions that explore themes such as:

AI-assisted teaching and assessment
The evolving roles of teachers and learners
Ethical and regulatory considerations
Equity and inclusion in AI-mediated learning environments
Human–AI interaction design
The impact of AI on creativity, motivation, and well-being

Interdisciplinary perspectives from education, psychology, ethics, cognitive sciences, educational technology, and human–computer interaction are especially encouraged.

In line with Sustainable Development Goal 4, we invite manuscripts that examine how AI can support fair, inclusive, and high-quality learning opportunities. Manuscripts offering actionable insights, conceptual models, or evidence-based recommendations for responsible human–AI collaboration in education are particularly valued.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Collaborative intelligence, Artificial intelligence in education, Ethics in digital education, Teacher activity, Innovative pedagogical practices, Digital maturity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.