Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40368938›Full record

ArticleNPJ science of learning2025

A systematic review of AI-driven intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) in K-12 education.

Angélique Létourneau, Marion Deslandes Martineau, Patrick Charland, John Alexander Karran, Jared Boasen, Pierre Majorique Léger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in NPJ science of learning, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Angélique LétourneauDepartment of Teaching at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada.
Marion Deslandes MartineauDepartment of Teaching at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6041-6604
Patrick CharlandDepartment of Teaching at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada. charland.patrick@uqam.ca.
John Alexander KarranDepartment of Information Technologies at école des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC), Montréal, QC, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5821-9561
Jared BoasenDepartment of Information Technologies at école des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC), Montréal, QC, Canada.
Pierre Majorique LégerDepartment of Information Technologies at école des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC), Montréal, QC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) has grown exponentially in the last decade, particularly intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs). Despite the increased use of ITSs and their promise to improve learning, their real educational value remains unclear. This systematic review aims to identify the effects of ITSs on K-12 students' learning and performance and which experimental designs are currently used to evaluate them. The 28 studies analyzed in this systematic review included a total of 4597 students (N = 4597) and used quasi-experimental designs with varying intervention durations. Overall, our findings suggest that the effects of ITSs on learning and performance in K-12 education are generally positive but are found to be mitigated when compared to non-intelligent tutoring systems. However, additional research with longer interventions and increased sample sizes with greater diversity is warranted. Additionally, the ethical implications of using AI for teaching should be investigated.

Identifiers

PMID40368938
PMCPMC12078640

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.