“When Does AI Tutoring Support Reasoning? Learner Differences and Agency”

How can AI tutoring support reasoning while respecting differences among learners? This talk examines that question through current research on Socratic dialogue about facial recognition ethics, focusing on variation in attention and the relationship between tutor moves and subsequent reasoning. A separate study comparing AI-recommended and learner-selected support provides a complementary perspective on agency. Drawing these studies together with an inclusive learning design example, Dr. Jewoong Moon discusses what interaction data can and cannot tell us about participation, adaptation, and learning. The talk offers practical implications for designing AI learning environments that make support transparent, acknowledge uncertainty, and preserve meaningful learner control.

Jewoong Moon is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at the University of Alabama. His research focuses on inclusive digital learning environments, game-based learning, and learning analytics, with an emphasis on how adaptive technologies can support diverse learners.