What Do Students Want from AI Chatbots in Education? Balancing Warmth and Competence
Chatbots are revolutionising the education landscape, offering personalised support to students while alleviating teacher workloads. Designed to provide immediate feedback and guidance, these chatbots are increasingly being integrated into classrooms to enhance self-directed learning. However, the success of AI chatbots depends heavily on their design—specifically, whether they adopt a warm, friendly approach or a competent, straightforward persona.
Researchers explored this question by developing two distinct chatbot personas. The study aimed to understand how interaction styles impact student preferences and learning outcomes across various academic disciplines.
Important Points
- AI chatbots can provide scalable and personalised learning support, reducing teachers’ administrative burden.
- Two chatbot personas were tested:
- John: Friendly, empathetic, casual demeanor aimed at creating a supportive environment.
- Jack: Professional, concise, and focused on delivering clear and efficient feedback.
- Student preferences varied by discipline:
- Engineering students favored Jack’s clear and professional responses.
- Arts and humanities students preferred John’s warm and encouraging approach.
- Effective implementation requires aligning chatbot interaction styles with student needs and disciplines.
- Challenges include ensuring ethical use, maintaining data privacy, and avoiding over-dependence on technology.
