Research Summary: Prompt-Mediated Curriculum Development: a human–AI co-design framework for AI-mediated curriculum development in higher education

The integration of generative and agentic artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly impacting curriculum development in higher education. AI systems are increasingly contributing to the design of various curriculum components, including learning outcomes and assessments. To address the current gap in understanding how educators can effectively utilize their expertise within these AI-mediated environments, a new Prompt-Mediated Curriculum Development (PMCD) framework has been introduced. This framework conceptualizes curriculum development as an iterative human-AI co-design process, emphasizing prompt literacy as a key mediating factor.

Why it matters

This development is strategically important as it addresses the growing integration of AI into core educational processes, specifically curriculum design. It provides a foundational framework for institutions to understand and manage human-AI collaboration in a critical area, ensuring that curriculum remains robust and human expertise is effectively leveraged.

Key insights

• Generative and agentic AI are transforming curriculum development in higher education by enabling AI systems to design learning outcomes, assessments, and instructional activities.
• There is a growing interest in AI literacy, prompt engineering, and human-AI collaboration within educational contexts.
• Limited attention has been paid to how educators can effectively apply their curriculum expertise in AI-mediated design environments.
• The Prompt-Mediated Curriculum Development (PMCD) framework conceptualizes curriculum development as an iterative process of human-AI co-design.
• Prompt literacy is identified as the mediating factor for effective human-AI collaboration within the PMCD framework.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1919066