Dr Alexander Mikroyannidis, Senior Research Fellow at the Knowledge Media Institute of The Open University (UK), presented his latest work on AI-enhanced learning at the 8th International Conference on Higher Education Learning Methodologies and Technologies Online (HELMeTO 2026), held in Cagliari, Italy, from 28-30 September 2026. The conference brought together academics, researchers and practitioners from around the world to discuss advances in digital learning methodologies and technologies in higher education.
Dr Mikroyannidis presented the metaheutagogy framework, a novel approach that explores how AI can support learners in developing critical thinking and metacognitive skills. Developed by Alexander Mikroyannidis and John Domingue, the metaheutagogy framework addresses one of the central challenges of AI-enhanced learning: ensuring that learners retain agency, judgement and responsibility while benefiting from increasingly capable AI systems. The framework builds upon established learning theories, extending the progression from pedagogy, andragogy and heutagogy to a new paradigm in which AI acts as a reflective and dialogic learning partner.
Commenting on the event, Dr Mikroyannidis noted that AI is transforming the way people learn and create new knowledge. He emphasised that we must move beyond teaching learners how to use AI and instead help them develop the metacognitive capabilities needed to critically evaluate and direct intelligent systems. As higher education institutions continue to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, metaheutagogy offers a timely framework for designing learning experiences that place human judgement, reflection and lifelong learning at the centre of the learning process.