Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS): It’s applications and challenges in higher education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.4380Keywords:
Intelligent tutoring systems, Higher education, Personalized learning, Educational technology, Adaptive learning, Artificial intelligence in educationAbstract
Intelligent Tutoring Systems represent a transformative approach to personalized learning in higher education, leveraging artificial intelligence and adaptive algorithms to provide individualized instruction at scale. This research examines the current state of ITS implementation in universities and colleges, exploring both the promising applications and significant challenges facing widespread adoption. Through systematic analysis of recent literature and empirical evidence from various institutional contexts, we identify key success factors and persistent barriers. The study reveals that ITS demonstrates significant potential in improving student engagement, learning outcomes, and retention rates, with effect sizes ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 standard deviations compared to traditional instruction. However, implementation faces substantial obstacles including high development costs, faculty resistance, technical infrastructure limitations, and concerns about pedagogical effectiveness for complex skills. This research contributes a comprehensive framework for evaluating ITS suitability across different disciplines and institutional contexts. Findings suggest that successful ITS deployment requires careful alignment with learning objectives, substantial faculty training, and hybrid models that combine automated tutoring with human instruction. The paper concludes with recommendations for educators, administrators, and technology developers to maximize ITS benefits while addressing legitimate concerns about educational quality and equity.
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