Crafting Relevant Learning Experiences in the Age of AI
Laurence Lehmann-Ortega
Professor of Strategy & Business Policy, HEC Paris
Project Concept & Overview
AI has started to change and will continue to change how students learn. Any framework, definition, or case summary is now available instantly through tools like ChatGPT. Knowledge is not only created and shared in the classroom. It can be created before, during and even after the actual live session. Acquiring knowledge that sticks requires doing things: investigate, connect ideas, ask better questions, give feedback, collaborate, and make sense of complexity.
This project is therefore not a single project or method. It is a pedagogical mindset and a portfolio of innovations built to craft learning experiences that remain meaningful, rigorous, and deeply human in the age of AI.
A Portfolio of Pedagogical Innovations
Innovating every step of the learning journey—before, during, and after class.
Digital content:
The core concepts are discoverd by the students through digital content, that I have developed, assessed through quizzes. This lives time to leverage the in-class presence for vivid discussion.
Reinventing case preparation through AI:
This conventional flipped classroom approach is enhanced by AI ad ons. Recognizing that students no longer read long cases, I introduced multimodal access (written + podcast versions) and developed an AI interview simulator for on of my recent cases about Jean-Pascal Tricoire’s successful 20 years tenure at Schneider Electric. Students only receive the case appendix and must “interview” the CEO through an AI model trained on both the written case and public sources. The app then provides feedback on:
- Content: elements they missed or misunderstood.
- Interviewing skills: quality of questions, logic of follow-up, and areas for improvement.
This shifts students from passive receivers of a case to active investigators.
Odyssey 3.14 webapp:
Over the past 10 years, together with my colleague Hélène Musikas, we have developed The Odyssey 3.14 approach, that stimulates students creativity by providing them a “methodology” (14 directions) to constantly reimagine a business model (and its 3 components). We added an AI driven web app that transforms our book into an interactive platform. Students can:
- input their business idea and explore innovation paths; or
- or choose a “critical thinking mode” where the app asks them questions instead of giving answers, encouraging deeper reasoning and creativity.
Experience Our Interactive Tools
Explore the AI-powered applications we've developed to transform the learning journey.
Audience & Learning Objectives
This pedagogy is deployed across the Grande École, MBA, EMBA, and Executive Education programs. Despite the diversity of audiences, the objectives are consistent.
Engage students actively in an AI-rich environment
Since AI is omnipresent, assignments and class activities are designed so that learning is enhanced by human interpretations, discussions, and peer-learning.
Strengthen strategic thinking
Field visits, guest speakers, and investigative case preparation help students decipher business models from the inside, not just from a slide or a reading.
Build leadership capabilities
Giving and receiving feedback, asking smart questions, interviewing executives, presenting under time pressure, and working across cultures are embedded in nearly every activity.
Encourage autonomy and exploration
In a key assignment, students choose any innovative business model they want to analyze. Bonus points reward those who explore beyond a simple optional list. This has helped create a website of innovative business models addressing the 17 SDGs.
Offer multimodal learning paths
Written cases, podcasts, interactive apps, simulations, and field experiences allow each student to engage through their preferred learning style.
Results & Expected Impact
Measuring the impact of this type of pedagogy is not straightforward, but several meaningful indicators point to its effectiveness.
Consistent student recognition
I have been nominated multiple times for the Vernimmen Award. This recurring recognition reflects sustained engagement and student appreciation.
Strong enthusiasm for AI-enhanced tools
Students report that the Odyssey 3.14 app and the AI interview simulator help them learn more deeply, prepare more effectively, and connect theory to practice.
Closing Remarks
This project is not a finished product; it is an ongoing process. I will continue to review even more thourougly the different steps (before, during and after the class) to integrate additional relevant AI tools, based on the feedback of the students. For example, improve the digital content to develop individual pathways, according to the students specific background or previous knowledge.
Business schools face a real challenge: when AI can teach anything, we must redefine our role. It is no longer to deliver content, but to craft learning experiences that stretch, surprise, and transform. AI is not banned or ignored; it is consciously integrated into the course design to support preparation, reflection, and creativity, allowing the essential human skills to remain at the center.
I hope this initiative will inspire colleagues and spark collective experimentation around AI-enhanced teaching at HEC. I am keen to share the tools, learn from others, and build new practices together, as I have done with Chee Ming Loh, my.
I warmly thank Chee-Ming Loh, instructional designer at Toyota Tsusho and real AI master, for being an exceptional thought partner throughout this journey.
Co-crafted with AI
Finally, in full coherence with the project’s philosophy, this report itself was co-crafted with AI. It reflects the partnership between human creativity and digital tools that, I believe, will define the future of our teaching profession.