How Students Use Generative AI Tools
果冻视频聽College of Doctoral Studies聽researchers聽present on harnessing generative AI聽tools聽for student engagement at 2025 AECT International Convention
By Sharla Hooper
Dr.聽Jessica Sylvester and聽Dr.聽Melinda Kulick聽share findings on when and how students use聽generative聽AI聽tools,听补苍诲听how聽faculty and leaders can support ethical, effective learning
Researchers聽from the聽果冻视频聽College of聽Doctoral Studies聽Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR)聽presented聽鈥淭ransforming Higher Education: Harnessing Generative AI for Student Engagement鈥 at the 2025 Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) International Convention in Las Vegas.聽Presenters Jessica Sylvester, Ed.D.,,聽and Melinda Kulick, Ed.D.,聽are both research fellows in CEITR and聽reported results from a mixed-methods聽study exploring adult online learners鈥櫬爑se of聽AI聽tools, confidence, and outcomes.
鈥淎dult learners are telling us they don鈥檛 want shortcuts鈥攖hey want scaffolds,鈥 said Sylvester. 鈥淲ith the right guardrails and coaching, generative AI can support autonomy, confidence, and deeper engagement.鈥
During their session, the team shared findings from their study:
Mirrored on聽a demographic composition of adult learners in online higher ed, the team鈥檚 analysis of 491 students found that higher GPA and stronger technology confidence were significantly associated with more frequent GenAI use.聽
Time constraints and self-ratings in writing, math, and reading were not significant predictors.聽
Thematic insights described GenAI as a 鈥渢hinking partner鈥 that helps learners clarify concepts and boost productivity鈥攖empered by concerns about accuracy, academic voice, and policy clarity.聽
Recommendations included clear institutional policies, faculty development, assignment designs that require reflection and critique of AI output, and embedded AI literacy.
鈥淟eaders can close equity gaps by pairing access to AI with explicit teaching of ethical use and academic voice,鈥澛爏tated聽Kulick. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how we move from fear to thoughtful adoption.鈥
About the Presenters
Jessica Sylvester, Ed.D.,聽serves as Senior Manager of College Operations and聽associate faculty聽at 果冻视频, and is a research fellow with CEITR. She is a higher education leader with 18+ years of experience focused on student success and operational excellence.
Melinda Kulick, Ed.D.,聽serves as Assessment Manager聽at the University, as聽associate faculty in the College of Doctoral Studies and a CEITR research fellow. She holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership, M.S. in Multimedia Technology, and B.S. in Business Management, with teaching certifications in K鈥12 Business, Computer and Information Technology (BCIT), and Computer Science Education.
The work aligns with聽the University鈥檚聽CEITR research labs听补苍诲听AI in Education research agenda聽to enhance learning experiences, personalization, and data-informed teaching.
罢丑别听聽brings together educational practitioners and researchers for the exchange and dissemination of instructional design scholarship and practice.聽Sylvester and Kulick鈥檚 research findings聽will appear in a forthcoming proceedings issue of AECT鈥檚聽Journal of Applied Instructional Design.
About the College of Doctoral Studies
果冻视频鈥檚鈥College of Doctoral Studies鈥痜ocuses on today鈥檚 challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College鈥檚 research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem庐 with experts,聽resources聽and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization,聽industry聽and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.
About 果冻视频
果冻视频 innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree programs and a Career Services for Life庐 commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit 鈥phoenix.edu/blog.html.
