'Instant answers to questions'... AI learning assistant helps online course students stay on track with their studies

[Financial News] An “artificial intelligence (AI) learning assistant” that gives students immediate answers, without making them wait when they encounter questions or unfamiliar words while taking online courses, is helping improve their study efficiency, a report has found.
YBM Net’s online education brand YBM Online Lectures analyzed more than a year’s worth of usage data for its AI learning assistant Ybot, along with the results of a survey of students, and announced its findings on the 9th. More than half of survey respondents, 54.4%, cited Ybot’s biggest advantage as its ability to provide immediate answers without waiting when questions arise.
Students said they mainly used the AI learning assistant when they had difficulty understanding an explanation during a lecture (41.2%), needed additional explanations of correct and incorrect answers (33.8%), or wanted to check questions that appeared in their textbooks but were not covered in the lectures (30.9%).
Analysis of actual usage data also confirmed these student needs. Questions about explanations of correct and incorrect answers made up the largest share of all questions, at 43.0%, while vocabulary-related questions accounted for 39.5%. In addition to explaining how to solve problems, the assistant also serves as a vocabulary notebook, letting students immediately look up unfamiliar words.
The service’s ability to provide help in real time was also evident in how students used it. Nearly half of all questions, 48.0%, were asked within the video lecture player. When students have a question while watching a lecture, they can get an answer right there without closing the window or going to a discussion board, allowing them to maintain their study flow. Students said they found it convenient that they could get explanations and additional details immediately by entering only the textbook page and question number.
A YBM Net official said, “The fact that students can resolve questions that arise during the learning process without delay appears to be a reason the service has received high marks,” adding, “We will continue to advance our technology to help learners resolve their questions more quickly and accurately.”

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter