What is Positive Psychology and Self Determination Theory?

Traditionally psychology is a viewed as a way to fix psychological “problems”. Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that looks at turning good to great, through best understanding how motivation and success can most easily flourish. Within positive psychology, there is a powerful framework for driving success called Self-Determination Theory.

For those interested, there is a lot to learn about Self-Determination Theory. In short, there are a few central ingredients which we find common to nearly all successful individuals. These ingredients are so central that the degree to which these things are deprived is directly linked to the hindering of success.

These theories help to explain the relational aspect of learning. When that goes awry, students can be left feeling stuck and miserable. Impactful Tutoring works to provide the optimal environment for a more positive and much more effective educational experience.

Why AI Will Never Replace Great Tutors

The AI tools now becoming available are powerful and students should learn to work with them. They can provide information and help to achieve certain tasks much faster or in complex masterful ways. However, there’s a big difference between knowledge and information. As a result, there’s many ways these tools fail to help students learn, develop, and succeed in school.

1. In-Person Test Taking

  • Limitations: AI cannot take the test for you.

  • Why it matters: Getting good grades means reflecting information, knowledge, and judgment during in-person skill assessments.

2. Iterative Learning

  • Limitations: AI explanations can be meaningless without foundational knowledge.

  • Why it matters: Learning builds on itself. Students who rely on AI instead of learning are sabotaging their future.

    Examples: Without learning algebra and trigonometry, students will never be able to understand calculus, statistics, and other advanced math and science. Without learning to read and write, students will be left without critical analysis skills and their own authentic voice.

3. Creative and Critical Thinking

  • Limitations: AI can generate ideas and help with brainstorming but may lack genuine creativity or the ability to think critically in novel ways.

  • Why it matters: It’s never been more important for students to be able to think, develop, and present their own ideas. Creative and critical thinking often require human intuition, imagination, and the ability to synthesize disparate ideas in unique ways.

4. Personalized Motivation and Mentorship

  • Limitations: AI cannot truly mentor or inspire students on a personal level.

  • Why it matters: Mentorship involves personal connection, encouragement, and role modeling, which AI lacks. In every field, those with excellent mentors & coaches, go much further.

5. Learning Builds on Connection

  • Limitations: AI doesn’t offer human connection and cannot effectively engage a student’s interest.

  • Why it matters: A great tutor offers the empathy, active listening, and emotional intelligence needed to keep students engaged with the material. This is an essential part of learning, as well as emotional and social development.

6. Ethical and Moral Decision-Making

  • Limitations: AI lacks moral reasoning and cannot make value-based decisions.

  • Why it matters: Students need to develop ethical reasoning skills, which involve complex human judgment beyond AI’s capabilities.

7. Complex, Open-Ended Discussions

  • Limitations: AI often struggles with nuanced, open-ended discussions that require deep understanding and cultural context.

  • Why it matters: Such discussions help students explore diverse perspectives and develop higher-order thinking skills.