Ep 2: Learning Is A Struggle AI Must Not Skip (Non-NotebookLM Version)

In this episode of Cultural Context of Knowledge, Dr. Donald Easton-Brooks compares Episode 1's use of NotebookLM with his narrated work to examine the central truth about learning: genuine learning is a productive struggle that moves us from uncertainty to understanding through a sequence of steps. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy as a frame, the episode explains why foundational concepts must be built before higher-order analysis and creation are possible, and why AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can become harmful when they encourage “sequence-skipping.” The conversation then extends beyond process into purpose, connecting AI-supported learning to the cultural context of knowledge: how history, lived experience, dominant narratives, and “whose knowledge counts” shape what we understand and how we interpret it. Educators and learners will leave with practical guidance for using AI as a scaffold that strengthens learning, supports inquiry, and remains culturally responsive, rather than replacing the struggle that makes understanding durable.