HiTA AI: A Student's Perspective on AI-Enhanced Learning
As a student, it’s exciting to be encouraged to use a chatbot for academic purposes rather than having AI declared off-limits.
I first interacted with HiTA when it became a necessary part of the curriculum for my learning analytics class. This was a novel concept to me––a chatbot tailored to help me understand class readings, build prediction models, and answer questions about assignments. Essentially, HiTA functions as a digital subject matter expert, familiar with all the material for a specific class, enabling it to provide very specific answers to student queries.
A large part of what made my learning analytics class both enjoyable and memorable was that with each passing week, I felt like I carried what I learned along with me, using that as a foundation to further develop my knowledge. By the end of the semester, I was confident in my understanding of major theories in the learning sciences and data science methods the class taught. HiTA played a pivotal role in this, for the following reasons.
First, weekly discussions using HiTA helped me gain a thoughtful understanding of our class readings. Conversations with HiTA are very freeform, allowing each student to tailor the experience to their liking. I took this as an opportunity to ask HiTA to further explain topics I found confusing, or to elaborate on things I found interesting. Because of this, I was able to uniquely engage with the class content in a way that was meaningful to my own learning journey.
Second, HiTA was an invaluable aid while completing data science assignments. Coming into this class with a less technical background, I was concerned my lack of programming knowledge would hold me back from grasping class material. However, HiTA offered hints and helped debug my code quickly, allowing me to focus on the underlying concepts behind each assignment rather than where I missed a closing parenthesis or used the wrong syntax somewhere in my code.
Third, HiTA was available 24/7. If I wanted to work at 6am or 6pm, I could. If I wanted to work from the comfort of my bedroom or my favorite on-campus study spot, no problem. HiTA’s instant, easy access gave me the flexibility to work at my own schedule, at my own pace. This gave me breathing room, which I greatly appreciated amid my busy, unpredictable schedule.
With HiTA always a few clicks away, I never felt the need to consult any other chatbots for this class. By the time I could explain the necessary background information behind a question to ChatGPT or Copilot, I could have an answer from HiTA. The utility of having access to a chatbot that already understands the context of your query is unparalleled.
Beyond this, I found myself wishing that I had HiTA for all my classes. How cool would it be to discuss the latest book chapters for my English class using HiTA? Or, to brainstorm research ideas for my communication class? The utility of this platform transcends specific subjects or disciplines. The ability to consult a digital subject matter expert to ask pointed questions, enhance understanding, and ultimately shape your unique learning experience is an asset for every student.
As someone who specializes in the study of human-computer interaction, I think HiTA is not only an incredibly useful platform, but also an important experience for students. Within the next few years we are likely to see an increase in specialized chatbots that will help streamline and optimize productivity across industries. Many of us students will likely be using these technologies in our professional careers, and using HiTA for schoolwork will help prepare us for this.
HiTA is one of those platforms that makes me excited for the future of AI within academic contexts. It doesn’t replace authentic learning, but rather enhances and personalizes the learning experience. All students learn differently––as I learned in my learning analytics class this semester––and HiTA adapts to fit every student’s distinct needs!
About The Author
Kathleen Anderson