McKenzie Fellow Dr Samantha-Kaye Johnston Leads Research on Critical Thinking in a Digital World
The Faculty of Education is proud to spotlight McKenzie Research Fellow Dr Samantha-Kaye Johnston, who is based at the Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre (AERC). Her McKenzie project explores how AI-enabled educational technologies can be designed not just to personalise learning, but to empower young students as autonomous, critical thinkers.
Before embarking on her academic journey, Dr. Johnston worked in the EdTech industry as a Product Manager and later held research roles at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education and Department of Computer Science. Her commitment to fostering critical engagement among young people was also reflected in Project Amplify, a Jesus College, Oxford-funded initiative that encouraged Jamaican youth to critically examine the ethics of the Metaverse.
Reflecting on the significance of the McKenzie Fellowship, Dr. Johnston shared:
"I’m just at the beginning of my journey as a McKenzie Fellow, and already I’m excited by the space it offers to reflect, experiment, and grow as a researcher. Coming from humble beginnings in Jamaica, and having started my career in a telecommunications centre, this opportunity feels especially meaningful. It has allowed me to build on a foundation of curiosity about how people engage with technology and to deepen my research on fostering critical thinking in digital learning environments."
In her current research, Dr Johnston is working with students, teachers and EdTech experts and testing new ideas to see how AI-enabled personalised learning can be improved to better support critical thinking. A key aspect of her work involves not just proposing redesigns but rigorously evaluating whether these changes genuinely make a difference in empowering young learners to think critically.
At the heart of her vision is a belief in the urgent need to protect spaces for deep, critical thought in an era increasingly shaped by AI. As Dr. Johnston explains:
"Technology is not neutral; it can just as easily amplify confusion as foster clarity. I want young people to leave educational spaces with the critical capacity to navigate complexity, question what they encounter, and make thoughtful decisions. Through this work, I hope to contribute to a future where digital learning empowers rather than overwhelms, and where education helps build the intellectual defences of peace."
Dr. Johnston’s work exemplifies the Faculty of Education’s commitment to research that addresses the most pressing challenges facing learners today. The McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellowship continues to provide vital support for early-career researchers like Dr. Johnston, enabling them to advance knowledge, challenge assumptions, and drive meaningful change in education, both locally and globally.
Established in 2010, the McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme fosters research excellence by supporting early-career scholars with dedicated research time, mentorship, and collaboration.