Episode
AI Tutors: Friend, Foe, or Faculty Ally? Here's What the Data Says
- Podcast
- The What And Who Of EDU
- Published
- Aug 13, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1715
- Processing state
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Summary
What happens when students turn to AI instead of instructors for help? In this episode of The What and Who of EDU, we unpack the rise of AI tutors in higher ed and explore the promise, the pitfalls, and everything in between. From a history lesson that starts in the 1960s (yep, really) to fresh 2025 data from Macmillan Learning, this episode breaks down what AI tutoring tools can actually do for student learning. Along the way, you'll hear how these tools help or hinder student persistence, academic honesty, their grades, and even the environment We wrap with 10 practical tips to help educators make the most of AI tutors without losing their minds (or their syllabi). Brought to you by Macmillan Learning 🧠 Today's Syllabus: 01:42 - Chapter 1: Intro to AI & AI Tutors in the class 04:41 - Chapter 2: Where AI tutoring started—and how far it's come 08:01 - Chapter 3: Why AI tutors might boost confidence, persistence, and performance 14:12 - Chapter 4: What to watch out for: overuse, offloading, and digital divides 21:45 - Chapter 5: 10 classroom-tested tips to use AI wisely 📖 Required Reading: Here are links to the studies we discussed as well as some of the featured products. Learn more about Macmillan Learning's AI Tutor: how it works, what it's designed to do, and what real students and instructors are saying. https://go.macmillanlearning.com/achieve-ai-education 📊 AI Usage, Efficacy & Adoption: Statista: Global AI Use by Students (2024): https://www.statista.com/statistics/1498309/usage-of-ai-by-students-worldwide/ Campus Technology: 86% of Students Use AI Weekly (2024): https://campustechnology.com/articles/2024/08/28/survey-86-of-students-already-use-ai-in-their-studies.aspx HEPI 2025 Student Academic Experience Survey https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/02/26/student-generat…