For those who worry that the black box of AI is a threat to education, that teachers and students may become overly reliant on the technology, there’s good news. Researchers are using AI in an open way to build adaptive tutoring systems to help teachers differentiate instruction and students learn math and other subjects.
At the forefront of this work is Associate Professor Zachary Pardos, whose team in BSE’s Computational Approaches to Human Learning lab has developed a tutoring tool called Open Adaptive Tutur (OATutor) and released it in 2023. An open-source system, the tool has potential to powerfully assist research in the use of AI in learning scenarios.
OATutor is gaining recognition in the field. The tool is a finalist in the 2023-24 Tools Competition in the track titled "Engaging Adult Learners in Higher Education" (Growth Award category), and if selected could be awarded $150,000 (winners will be announced in summer 2024); and was awarded a second $50,000 microgrant from Berkeley's Office of Undergraduate Education in order to expand its use in select chemistry and mathematics courses.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.