🗓️ Wednesday 21 May 2025  🕛 12:00-13:00

• 🟢Theme: Critically exploring data-driven technologies and practices in digital education

Can GenAI level the playing field for students with barriers to learning?

Bex Drummond

Recording

Abstract

This research explores the potential of Generative AI (GenAI) to support students with barriers to learning in higher education. While GenAI promises to streamline academic tasks, support understanding and enhance creativity, its actual use among students facing learning challenges remains unclear.

In March 2024, a questionnaire was distributed to 650 education students at a University in England. It yielded a low response rate (n=27), suggesting a fear of associating with AI and being accused of unethical use. Among respondents, over 75% reported significant barriers to learning, yet two-thirds claimed to have rarely or never used GenAI tools, displaying a lack of understanding about GenAI’s capabilities.

Three in-person semi-structured follow-up interviews took place with volunteers who represented a range of viewpoints on their questionnaires. The barriers identified by the students were surprising and led to a refocus in research of AI tools addressing motivation, time management, research skills and mental health. It was clear that students were often unaware of the capacities of not only basic GenAI tools, but also other associated AI applications which could support them. It was found that students were unclear on the regulations surrounding AI use and that the University’s AI declarations were confusing and inadequate. Despite limited usage, students expressed interest in formal instruction on ethical and effective use of GenAI.

The findings suggest that while GenAI holds significant potential to mitigate common learning barriers, use is hindered by misinformation, fear, and a lack of institutional guidance. The study concludes with a call for universities to provide structured support, clear guidance for example Furze’s AI Assessment Scale (Furze,2024) and education to empower students and staff in harnessing GenAI responsibly and productively.

References

Furze (2024) Updating the AI Assessment Scale Online available at https://leonfurze.com/2024/08/28/updating-the-ai-assessment-scale/ (Accessed: 24^th April 2025)