Research blog & notes

Patricia Cruz

Cognitive Loop — notes on human–AI learning

MSc Computational Social Science  ·  Linköping University  ·  Swedish Institute Scholar


Exploring cognition, agency & literacy in AI-mediated education

Site mission

When students talk to AI,
what are they really learning?

This blog documents my journey through the intersection of generative AI and human cognition. I write about how students develop agency, metacognition, and critical literacy when AI becomes part of their learning process — and what that means for how we design education.

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Research interests

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Metacognition & AI

How reflective interaction logs with generative AI can surface and strengthen metacognitive awareness in learners.

Agency in AI-mediated learning

Whether and how students develop critical thinking and self-directed learning when generative AI mediates their study process.

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AI Literacy

Understanding AI not only as a tool but as an object of critical awareness — the cognitive and socio-ethical dimensions of being AI-literate.

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Equity & Access

Technology as a lever for expanding educational access, drawing from work with low-income communities and project-based learning design.

About

Where research meets practice

I combine formal academic training in computational social science with nearly a decade of hands-on experience designing learning environments — from running an IT department to teaching programming in underserved communities.

My thesis, beginning next academic year, will examine how students develop agency and AI literacy when using generative AI as a learning partner.