Introducing a Smart Learning Assistant on a MOOC Platform: Enhancing Personalized Learning Experiences

This paper presents the Smart Learning Assistant on the German MOOC platform AI-Campus. It is an AI-powered, dialog-based system that provides learners with personalized learning support and features for enhanced learning. The paper presents the original motivation and planned features of the Smart Learning Assistant as well as its technical implementation, architecture, and status quo. An initial evaluation was conducted using event logs from the dialog system and an integrated feedback loop. It shows that learners start to use the learning assistant and are also engaged in long conversations. Frequent topics of conversation are related to the user's profile, more information about AI-Campus, information about AI, or reporting an error. However, the initial analysis has also shown that users are not yet satisfied with the first assistant and that the list of topics and functions as well as the conversation guidance need to be expanded. The paper concludes with a discussion of future directions for AI development and integration in MOOC platforms, including the need for continued evaluation and refinement of AI-enabled educational technologies. In addition, an overview of future functionalities and opportunities for improvement is provided. Overall, this paper contributes to the understanding of the potential benefits and challenges of AI in education and sheds light on the role of a Smart Learning Assistant in enhancing personalized learning experiences on MOOC platforms.