The Delegation-Diligence loop
The Delegation-Diligence loop
This video explores how to teach the Delegation-Diligence loop as a framework for responsible design and decision-making in AI collaboration. The loop addresses strategic and ethical questions about whether, when, and how to use AI, moving beyond "how do I use AI?" to "how do I make good decisions about AI?" The video demonstrates the two-way relationship between these competencies: Delegation decisions raise Diligence questions, and Diligence considerations reshape Delegation strategies. It provides concrete strategies for helping students recognize these connections, including step-by-step guides for navigating the loop in both directions and exercises that make the connections visible. The video emphasizes that when students understand how these competencies work together, they learn to see constraints not as limitations but as creative catalysts that clarify and strengthen their collaboration choices.
Key takeaways
- The Delegation-Diligence loop handles big-picture strategic and ethical decision-making about AI use
- Delegation and Diligence each informs and shapes the other — the loop runs both ways
- Teaching through scenarios helps students see connections rather than treating competencies as checkboxes
- Students who master this loop develop clear rationales for their choices and can articulate why their approach aligns with goals and values
- Accountability and transparency enhance rather than limit creative possibilities with AI
Exercises
This exercise helps you create a concrete lesson plan for teaching the Delegation-Diligence loop.
Creating Your Loop Scenario
Estimated time: 10 minutes.
Continue the conversation from Exercise 1, and let your AI partner know that you are designing a Delegation-Diligence loop focused lesson:
- Work with the AI to create a realistic scenario/workflow from your discipline
- Include specific details that will enable students to think about nature of work, human and AI capabilities and limitation, ethics, transparency, and accountability
- Create decision points where students must navigate between strategic choices and ethical considerations
- Plan how students will document their thinking as they work through the scenario
What's next
In the next lesson, we'll explore the Description-Discernment loop, which focuses on the moment-to-moment craft of building cognitive environments where humans and AI work together effectively.