The Knox School was privileged to host renowned educational thoughtleader Professor Yong Zhao on Monday 12 May 2025, whose visit sparked deep, challenging and vital conversations about the future of education. Across a full day of workshops, podcasts, keynote addresses and panel discussions with students, teachers and parents, Yong posed one simple but powerful question: What is Worth Learning in the Age of AI?
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, global uncertainty and rapidly changing career landscapes, Yong urged us to rethink long-standing assumptions about schooling, success and the very purpose of learning. His message? It’s time to break the one-size-fits-all paradigm and make room for students to discover their unique greatness.
Learning That Takes Flight
Building upon the work with our teaching and learning staff at the beginning of 2025, Yong’s immersive visit began with our teachers, encouraging staff to reflect deeply on their practice and how it can better support personalisation, curiosity and creativity in every learner.
From here, he collaborated with our students on the next exciting episode of our TKS Flight Deck podcast. Students were invited not just to participate, but to lead – to voice their ideas, challenge norms and rethink what learning could look like in their own lives and how they can become agents of their own learning.
In the evening, Yong addressed our parent community as well as many visiting educators from other schools around the state, reminding us that education is not just about achievement – it’s about purpose. “Parents drive education,” he said. “You want a great education for your child’s success. But ask: what is success in the age of AI?”
Meritocracy: A Broken Promise?
Yong didn’t shy away from confronting tough ideas. He challenged the long-held belief in meritocracy – the notion that hard work and intelligence lead inevitably to success. This idea, he argued, overlooks one critical truth: every human being is different. Each child enters the world under different circumstances, with different strengths and interests. If we know this, he asked, why do we persist with systems that expect every student to succeed in the same way?
Referencing Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences, Yong advocated for an education system that celebrates difference, rather than conformity. “Why not be bad at some things?” he asked provocatively. “Be bad at cooking. Be bad at equations. Admit it. It’s better to know your weaknesses so you can focus on what you’re good at!”
From Average to Unique: The Power of Personalisation
Yong’s message was consistent: don’t strive to be average. Strive to be you. Human potential, he reminded us, is jagged – a mix of talents, weaknesses, passions and possibilities. Instead of competing for the same outcomes, education should encourage every student to explore their unique profile and find where they can create value for others.
This is more than just a motivational message – it’s backed by research. Yong pointed out that students might spend around 12,000 hours in school from Prep to Year 12. Imagine spending that time doing something you’re not interested in or not good at. “Learning has escaped the classroom,” he said, “but credentialing has not. We need to change that.”
Our Knoxpeditions program is one example from The Knox School that Yong praised – an opportunity for students to explore, try, fail fast and learn forward. It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about discovering what lights the spark.
What Happens When Students Lead?
A highlight of the day was a student-led panel, where learners from Years 9 to 11 offered their thoughts on how schools could be redesigned for the future and posed big questions to Yong. Their answers echoed Yong’s call: more personalised learning, more agency, more purpose.
One Year 10 student shared how, after four years at The Knox School, they’ve felt a growing shift toward tailored learning. “Our teachers work hard to make sure the learning suits us. It’s exciting,” they said. Yong agreed – The Knox School is ahead of the curve, already embracing the complexity and challenge of change.
Yong reminded us that students are often more future-focused than adults. “Governments can be wrong. Parents can be wrong. But students are looking ahead. Listen to them.”
Redefining Success in the Age of AI
So, what should students aim for in a world shaped by AI? According to Yong, the ability to find and solve problems that matter to others will be the defining skill of the future. Forget rote learning. AI does that faster. The future belongs to those who are curious, adaptable and purposeful.
Learning, Yong said, is no longer about collecting information. It’s about doing. And in this co-evolving relationship between humans and machines, we must teach students to think critically, act ethically and create value.
Even through the lens of popular culture, Yong illustrated his point about Princesses. “Snow White did very little,” he said. “Mulan took action. Moana created and led. We need more Moanas in the world.” Even Rudolph, with his once-mocked nose, found his niche and became indispensable.
A Simple Goal: Find Your Greatness
The takeaway? If we want our children to be happy, they need purpose. If we want them to have a career, they need abilities and interests that provide value to others. As Yong concluded,
The goal of education is simple: help every child find their unique greatness. They won’t know what it is until they try. But give them space, support and the chance to fail fast – and they’ll discover it.”
At The Knox School, we are proud to be part of this transformation. With visionary educators, engaged parents, and passionate students, we are committed to reimagining what school can be; a place where difference is not only accepted, but celebrated.
Let’s move forward together toward a more personal, purposeful and powerful future for education.
