An AI-assisted educational chatbot has fostered a dynamic, more personalised learning experience for students in large statistics classes.
The University of Melbourne’s Dr Wasana Karunarathne’s StatBot project has been shortlisted for the 2024 Future Campus Best Use of AI in Learning and Teaching award, for promoting inclusivity, managing the different learning needs and backgrounds of students through AI while also providing equitable access to resources and support.
With enrolments in some classes topping 1,000, the Melbourne team collaborated with colleagues at the University of Auckland, IBM and ISW to develop a bot to provide student-specific support.
“Many, particularly our international students, are not inclined to ask questions for fear of embarrassment,” Dr Karunarathne states.
“Unlike generic chatbots, Statbot provides tailored support for each subject and student by leveraging Generative AI models trained specifically on course materials. This approach fosters a more inclusive learning environment which accommodates for the diverse needs of both domestic and international students.”
The introduction of StatBot resulted in increased student engagement and provided a useful revision tool, promoting self-regulated learning.
Learn more about StatBot through a two-minute video about the project.
