Union Catholic's Dr. Marla James Publishes Groundbreaking Book On AI And The Future of Education

Dr. Marla James has spent years asking the same question that keeps educators awake at night: How do we know what students are actually learning when artificial intelligence can generate essays, solve problems, and complete assignments in seconds?

Her answer comes in the form of a new book—and a new way of thinking about learning itself. James, a faculty member at Union Catholic in Scotch Plains, has published Documented Learning: Process over Product in the Age of AI, a practical framework that helps teachers embrace artificial intelligence while keeping authentic student learning at the center of the classroom.

Union County Life celebrates educators who lead with vision, and James is exactly that kind of leader. She was named the 2024 Co-Non-Public School Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Council for American Private Education and recognized nationally as a voice on the intersection of education, ethics, and innovation.

Her insight is simple but powerful: Instead of trying to catch students using AI, schools should redesign learning for a world where AI already exists. Instead of policing the tool, teach students to use it thoughtfully.

"Documented learning is the intentional practice of making learning visible," James explained. "Instead of submitting only a finished product, students document the journey. This can include how they brainstormed, conducted research, evaluated evidence, collaborated with AI, questioned AI output, made revisions, and reflected on their decisions."

This means students might submit research logs, revision histories, AI-use logs, reflection journals, annotated conversations with AI, video explanations, and oral presentations alongside their final work. The emphasis shifts from the product to the thinking that produced it.

"In an age when AI can generate impressive work almost instantly, the process is the most valuable evidence of learning," James said.

James credits much of her inspiration to Union Catholic itself. She specifically acknowledges Assistant Principal Noreen Andrews and colleagues Kathy Webber, Catarino Portillo, and Dr. Edward Sagendorf, with whom she worked on Union Catholic's Responsible AI in Learning initiative. That work earned the school the prestigious Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL) Endorsement from the Middle States Association.

"I am inspired daily by my colleagues, especially UC's assistant principal, Noreen Andrews," James said. "We have worked on many projects together that explore the role of AI in education."

For teachers feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change, James offers a practical starting point: "Choose one assignment and ask students to submit one additional artifact that reveals their thinking. That artifact could be a reflection, a planning document, a revision log, or an annotated draft."

Her book is packed with current research, classroom examples, and strategies that work for K-12 teachers, instructional leaders, administrators, and higher education faculty. It's available for purchase on Amazon.

James also thanked her husband, Keith, for supporting her throughout the writing process, recognizing that bringing an idea to life requires community—at home and at school.

Union Catholic continues to establish itself as a center for educational innovation in Union County. For more information about Union Catholic, call 908-889-1600 or visit unioncatholic.org. Union County Life covers education, community institutions, and thought leaders across all 21 municipalities.

FAQ

Q: What is Documented Learning?
A: Documented Learning is an educational approach developed by Dr. Marla James that shifts the emphasis from evaluating only the final product to understanding the learning process that produced it. Instead of submitting just a finished assignment, students document how they brainstormed, researched, collaborated with AI, questioned AI output, revised their work, and reflected on their decisions.

Q: Why does Dr. James recommend Documented Learning in an AI-driven world?
A: When AI can instantly generate high-quality work, the final product alone no longer reveals what a student actually knows or understands. By making the learning process visible—through research logs, revision histories, reflection journals, and other artifacts—teachers gain a much clearer picture of student thinking and learning.

Q: What types of documentation does Dr. James recommend students submit?
A: According to the book, students can submit research logs, revision histories, AI-use logs, reflection journals, annotated drafts, annotated AI conversations, video explanations, and oral presentations. These artifacts capture student thinking while it is happening.

Q: Should schools use AI detection software to catch cheating?
A: Dr. James recommends against plagiarism detectors. Instead, she advocates for transparency built into every stage of learning. The goal is not to prove students didn't use AI, but to understand how they used it, where they challenged it, where they improved upon it, and what they learned.

Q: What is the Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL) Endorsement that Union Catholic received?
A: The RAIL Endorsement from the Middle States Association recognizes schools that have implemented responsible approaches to AI in education. Union Catholic earned this endorsement through a collaborative project led by Assistant Principal Noreen Andrews that included Dr. Marla James and colleagues Kathy Webber, Catarino Portillo, and Dr. Edward Sagendorf.

Q: Where can I find more about education, innovation, and community institutions in Union County?
A: Union County Life covers education, community thought leaders, and institutional innovations across all 21 municipalities. Follow Union County Life for stories about teachers, schools, and educational advancements in your area.