Student Research Guide WQ25/ Integration of AI Powered Tools and Effects on Higher Education

Major Takeaways from the Research

1. AI Benefits for Teachers
   • AI helps teachers by automating grading, lesson planning and student feedback.
   • It allows educators to focus on student engagement and critical thinking.
   • Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) personalize instruction for students with different learning needs. 
2. ​​​​​​​AI Enhancing Student Engagement
   • ​​​​​​​AI tools like ChatGPT personalize learning ang provide real-time feedback.
   • students can us AI to improve writing, grammar, and research skills.
   • AI-powered tutoring systems build student confidence and motivation.
3. ​​​​​​​ Ethical Concerns and Boundaries for AI Use
   • ​​​​​​​AI raises concerns about academic dishonesty and over-reliance.
   • Schools are using AI-detection tools (e.g., Turnitin AI, GPTZero) to prevent misuse.
   • Educators set guidelines to balance AI use with traditional learning methods.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​AI is transforming education by enhancing teaching, improving student engagement, and promoting equity, but ethical boundaries must be in place to prevent misuse and ensure responsible learning.

Research Advice and Reflection

Advice for Future Researchers:

•  When researching AI in education, focus on credible sources like peer-reviewed journals, educational institutions, and official AI research papers. Some blogs or opinion-based articles may contain bias or lack evidence-based information.

• Using databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, or EBSCOhost is helpful in finding reliable academic sources. These provide well-researched articles rather than opinion pieces.

• Be mindful of ethical concerns in AI research. A major challenge is finding balanced perspectives on AI—some sources may overly praise AI, while others may only focus on its risks. Aim to find sources that present both advantages and concerns.

• Consider exploring future AI advancements in education, such as how AI might be integrated into virtual reality (VR) learning or adaptive learning software.

• AI policies in schools are still evolving. Future researchers should investigate how schools are creating ethical AI usage policies and how these impact student learning outcomes.

Reflection on research experience:

The research process was insightful and helped me understand how AI is shaping higher education. Finding reliable sources was sometimes challenging, but databases like Google Scholar and the Skagit Valley College library databases were helpful. I found that many articles that were available on the topic of AI voiced more of the opinion of the author, which depending on their view of AI could be biased one way or the other. Some articles either fully praised AI or completely criticized it, making it difficult to find balanced viewpoints. I leaned towards books that explored the embracing AI-powered tools in the classroom for both educators and students and teaching students ethical use of AI-powered tools. 

At first, I was mainly curious about how AI helps students, but as I researched, I became more interested in its broader impact on education, including how it helps teachers and the ethical concerns surrounding its use. I now see AI as a tool that must be balanced with critical thinking and traditional learning methods. This research helped me recognize that AI is a double-edged sword. While it can enhance learning and make education more accessible, it also raises concerns about over-reliance and academic integrity. I also realized that as AI continues to evolve, it will be important for educators and institutions to establish clear guidelines to ensure it is used responsibly.