New Pub: Impact of Artificial Intelligence Based Systems to Improve Mathematics Achievement in Rural Schools

New Pub: Impact of Artificial Intelligence Based Systems to Improve Mathematics Achievement in Rural Schools

Artificial Intelligence, Journal, New Pub, School
Poor mathematics achievement, especially in rural areas, remains a persistent challenge. Schools in rural areas often struggle to attract and retain highly qualified mathematics teachers, and the teacher shortage across the United States further amplifies this issue. Numerous studies indicate that AI-based systems can enhance mathematics achievement and improve test scores on both standardized and non-standardized tests in K-12 and higher education. These systems offer adaptive and personalized education tailored to the unique needs of each student. By creating learning pathways based on students' current knowledge and offering real-time feedback and support, AI-based systems have the potential to improve learning outcomes across the P-20 educational spectrum. Despite the increasing adoption of AI-based tools, there is limited research on its impact on K-12 classrooms within rural contexts, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged…
Read More
Guest Talk at Monash University

Guest Talk at Monash University

Feedback, Invited talk
During his recent research visit to Australia, Daniele Di Mitri had the privilege of presenting at Monash University, specifically at the Centre for Learning Analytics Monash (COLAM). His talk, titled “The Quest for Automated Feedback,” explored the evolving role of AI in education, particularly in providing meaningful feedback to students. As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly popular among students seeking feedback on their essays, a critical question arises: How effective is this feedback? Daniele's research delves into the complexities of generating automated feedback, emphasising that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Feedback is inherently context-dependent, influenced by various factors, including the learner’s needs, the task at hand, and the feedback modality. The literature on feedback is vast and nuanced. Daniele referenced several foundational models, including Hattie & Timperley (2007) and…
Read More
HyTea Project Meeting with BMBF: A Day of Insight and Collaboration

HyTea Project Meeting with BMBF: A Day of Insight and Collaboration

Project meeting
On October 22nd, 2024, the HyTea project team gathered on the 12th floor of DIPF for a pivotal meeting with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The agenda was packed with insightful presentations, discussions, and collaborative planning, all aimed at advancing the project's goals. The formal proceedings started with a warm welcome by project leader Daniele Di Mitri and the presentation of engaging trailers of the prototypes developed for the HyTea project. The two prototypes are systems (AI tutors) that can be used to train presentation skills. After that, Jan Schneider took the stage to show the starting point of the HyTea project: the Presentation Trainer. His presentation offered valuable insights into the project's training components, emphasising innovative approaches and research gaps. The doctoral candidates Nina…
Read More
Exploring Complexity in Human Learning at the Johanna Quandt Young Academy School

Exploring Complexity in Human Learning at the Johanna Quandt Young Academy School

Feedback, Invited talk
On Monday, 7th October 2024, Dr. Daniele Di Mitri had the pleasure of presenting at the Johanna Quandt Young Academy School, held at the Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften in Bad Homburg. This event was a fantastic opportunity to delve into the intricate topic of "Complexity in Human Learning" alongside Dr. Elena Galeano Weber. Dr. Di Mitri's segment of the presentation focused on "Supporting Learning with AI through Feedback." He explored the multifaceted nature of complexity in human learning and discussed the critical aspects to consider when designing meaningful AI-automated feedback. The goal was to highlight how AI can be leveraged to enhance learning experiences by providing timely and relevant feedback, thus supporting learners in navigating complex educational landscapes. Understanding complexity in human learning is crucial for developing effective educational tools and strategies.…
Read More
EduTec consults the Federal Ministry of Education on upcoming research funding lines

EduTec consults the Federal Ministry of Education on upcoming research funding lines

School, Workshop
[caption id="attachment_6986" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The building of the Ministry of Education in Berlin where the meeting took place.[/caption]   On the 27th of September, DIPF researcher and EduTec member Dr Daniele Di Mitri was invited to attend a high-level expert consultation. This consultation, set up by the German Federal Ministry of Education (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung - BMBF) in collaboration with the project entity German Space Agency (DLR), aimed to gather experts' opinions on the upcoming research funding line for studying the impact of Artificial Intelligence in schools. Dr Di Mitri's participation in this collaborative event, alongside other experts, reflects the inclusive nature of the discussion on AI in education. The upcoming call for project funding aims to support research projects that research more profound into the pedagogical, didactical,…
Read More
New Pub: Preserving Privacy in Multimodal Learning Analytics with Visual Animation of Kinematic Data

New Pub: Preserving Privacy in Multimodal Learning Analytics with Visual Animation of Kinematic Data

Empirical Study
A recent study has been published that addresses the growing concern of data privacy in multimodal learning analytics (MMLA). The research investigates the potential of using visual animations as an alternative to traditional video recordings for analyzing sensitive data, particularly in educational settings. MMLA involves collecting and analysing data from various sources, including video recordings, to gain insights into learning behaviours and outcomes. However, the use of video can raise significant privacy concerns, especially when it contains identifiable information about individuals. This has led to ethical dilemmas regarding using such data in research. The study, based on the master thesis of Aleksandr Epp, introduces the Kinematic Animation Tool (KAT) to address these privacy issues. This tool allows researchers to visualise kinematic data without relying on video footage, thereby mitigating privacy…
Read More
New pub: A Human-centric Approach to Explain Evolving Data

New pub: A Human-centric Approach to Explain Evolving Data

Conference
A recent study led by Gabriella Casalino at the University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy in collaboration with Daniele Di Mitri highlights the importance of transparency and explainability in Machine Learning models used in educational environments. As we embrace this technological shift driven by AI in education, it is imperative to address the ethical considerations surrounding AI applications in educational settings. A recent study has underscored the critical importance of transparency and explainability in machine learning models utilized in educational environments. At the forefront of this study is the introduction of DISSFCM, a dynamic incremental classification algorithm that harnesses the power of fuzzy logic to analyze and interpret students' interactions within learning platforms; by offering human-centric explanations, the research endeavours to deepen stakeholders' understanding of how AI models arrive at…
Read More
Invited talk at the University of The Philippines

Invited talk at the University of The Philippines

Invited talk
On June 19th, Daniele Di Mitri was invited to give an online talk at the University of the Philippines. The title of my talk was "Intelligent Tutors, Learning Analytics, and Multimodal Technologies," it served as the kickoff guest lecture for the webinar series hosted by the Intelligent Systems Center of the University of the Philippines. At its peak, the lecture had over 170 participants connected online. During the talk, he discussed how learners in the twenty-first century need continuous instruction and timely feedback to develop their competencies. In situations where human experts are not readily available, Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems can offer automatic, personalized, and real-time feedback to learners in distance learning settings. This allows learners to practice at their own pace while receiving continuous feedback. Moreover, AI feedback can…
Read More
What is University? Presentation in the Lecture Series of Goethe University

What is University? Presentation in the Lecture Series of Goethe University

Invited talk
[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="6538,6539,6536,6537"] On Thursday, 6th June 2024, Hendrik Drachsler and Daniele Di Mitri presented "Multimodal Learning Analytics: How AI and sensor technology are changing the way we learn." The presentation was part of a lecture series, "What is University?" organized by Goethe University. The presentation touched upon the relevance of Artificial Intelligence in Education, its sociotechnical implications, and the opportunities and challenges of Generative AI. It also included the role of Education Technologies in their three forms: Learning Analytics, AI in Education, and Immersive Learning. In the presentation, Drachsler and Di Mitri outlined their research, work, and thoughts on the added value of academic research and university AI in education instead of corporate research. A video recording of the presentation is available below.
Read More
JTEL workshop: Making Presentable Research

JTEL workshop: Making Presentable Research

Higher Education, Multimodal Learning Analytics, Workshop
[caption id="attachment_6515" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Photo of Nina and Stefan presenting in the worskhop[/caption] On May 14th, a workshop titled "Making Presentable Research" was held at the JTEL Summer School 2024, led by Stefan Hummel, Nina Mouhammad, Daniele Di Mitri, and Jan Schneider. The session was designed to equip PhD candidates with the skills necessary to effectively communicate their research. The ability to present research clearly and persuasively is a vital skill for PhD candidates. This workshop provided a platform to learn and practice these skills, using innovative software tools designed for message composition and nonverbal communication training. The workshop was organized into several segments, each focusing on different aspects of research presentation: An introduction to the topic and project. A guide to downloading and accessing the necessary software. A session…
Read More