Possible Roles for an AI Tutor
According to Mollick and Mollick (2024), AI tutors can be assigned various roles to enhance student learning in the classroom, including the following:
- AI as Tutor: Provides direct instruction and educational guidance, pushing students to generate responses and think through problems.
- AI as Coach: Helps students engage in metacognition by reflecting on past experiences or planning for future projects.
- AI as Mentor: Offers frequent and ongoing feedback on student work.
- AI as Teammate: Increases collaborative intelligence by prompting discussions and offering alternative viewpoints in group settings.
- AI as Student: Allows students to “teach” the AI about a topic, evaluating its output and correcting inaccuracies, which enhances the student’s own understanding.
- AI as Simulator: Creates opportunities for practicing hard-to-practice skills through role-playing scenarios, allowing students to apply knowledge and receive performance feedback.
- AI as Tool: Extends student performance by assisting with various tasks like writing software or analyzing data.
