Study of 77,000 online learners reveals how students use AI learning assistants in sync with class schedules

A study of 77,000 online students at IU International University of Applied Sciences reveals how learners integrate the AI assistant Syntea into their schedules. Around 58% of students used Syntea, with part-time students utilizing it on evenings and weekends, and full-time students during weekdays. Adoption spans generations, including 64% of Generation Z and 38% of Baby Boomers. IU plans to add multimodal features and personalized dialogues to Syntea.

Large-scale AI learning assistant study

• ▪The study, "Using AI-based Learning Assistants in Higher Education: A Large-Scale Descriptive Analysis," was led by Kristina Schaaff, Valerie Hekkel, and Quintus Stierstorfer.
• ▪A study by IU International University of Applied Sciences analyzed anonymized usage data from approximately 77,000 online students using the AI learning assistant Syntea.
• ▪Syntea is used particularly intensively in the subject areas of Psychology & Education and Marketing & Communication.
• ▪Syntea is available to more than 80,000 online students at IU International University of Applied Sciences and around 5,000 learners at IU Academy.

Student usage patterns by schedule

• ▪Part-time students use Syntea more frequently in the evenings and on weekends, whereas full-time students predominantly use it during weekday daytime hours.
• ▪Around 58% of the 77,000 online students analyzed in the study used the AI learning assistant Syntea during the observation period.

Demographic adoption rates

• ▪Approximately 64% of Generation Z students used Syntea, compared with 50% of Generation X students and 38% of Baby Boomers.
• ▪Female students used Syntea slightly more frequently than male students, with a usage rate of 59% compared to 55%.

Future multimodal development plans

• ▪Future updates to Syntea will include personalized learning dialogues tailored to individual student career goals and interests.
• ▪IU International University of Applied Sciences plans to enhance Syntea with multimodal capabilities, particularly for visually oriented degree programs.