Reimagining Pedagogy in the Age of AI: A Conceptual Framework for Human Centered Learning

The rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence is transforming the foundations of teaching and learning, challenging traditional pedagogical models and raising urgent questions about how educators should design meaningful learning experiences in an AI saturated environment.While current discourse often oscillates between optimism and alarmism, this paper argues that the core issue is not technological capability but pedagogical purpose.Drawing on contemporary research in cognitive psychology, metacognition, learning sciences, and AI literacy, the paper develops a theoretical framework AI Enhanced Pedagogy Model (AIEPM) that positions AI as a cognitive copilot rather than a substitute for human learning.The model integrates five conceptual pillars: cognition first design, metacognitive empowerment, transparent and ethical AI use, conversational assessment, and the evolving role of the educator as designer and critical interpreter of technology.The analysis expands existing literature by situating AI pedagogy within the socio cultural realities of higher education, highlighting risks such as over reliance, loss of human agency, and the inadequacy of punitive AI detection policies.The paper concludes that effective integration of AI requires a shift toward reflective, human centered pedagogies that elevate rather than diminish learners' cognitive capacities, offering a theoretical foundation for future empirical research and curriculum innovation.