[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-84404-en":3,"doc-seo-84404-105":29,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":27,"read_time":28},84404,7971461741311,"Ophelia","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/74000253aff267980c6?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779345379180704826",8,"Research & Report","Using AI-based Learning Assistants in Higher Education: A Large-Scale Descriptive Analysis","Large-scale descriptive evidence on AI-based learning assistants in higher education is provided through objective interaction logs from 77,543 students in distance studies. The analysis examines how usage of the AI-based learning assistant Syntea varies across demographic and structural factors, including gender, age group, study cluster, degree, and study mode, as well as temporal study routines. The findings address limitations of prior chatbot research relying on small samples and self-reports, offering an empirical basis for refining learning support.","arXiv :2607 .08748v 1 [ cs .AI] 9 Jul 2026  \nUsing AI-based Learning Assistants in Higher Education: A Large-Scale Descriptive Analysis  \nKristina Schaaff, Quintus Stierstorfer and Valerie Hekkel IU International University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt, Germany.  \nEmail: [kristina.schaaff@iu.org](kristina.schaaff@iu.org) ; [quintus.stierstorfer@iu.org](quintus.stierstorfer@iu.org) ;  \n[valerie.hekkel@iu.org](valerie.hekkel@iu.org) ;  \nAbstract  \nIn this study, we present a large-scale descriptive analysis of the use of an AI-based learning assistant (Syntea) in higher education.  \nBased on objective log data from 77,543 students enrolled in distance studies, we examine usage patterns across gender, age group, study cluster, degree, and study mode. To date, existing research on educational chatbots has largely relied on comparatively small samples and self-reported survey data, while large-scale evidence on actual usage behavior remains limited. Our findings show that Syntea is already embedded in the study routines of many learners, but that usage differs across demographic and structural contexts. By identifying these patterns, our study provides an empirical basis for the further development of AI-based learning support and contributes a large-scale analysis of educational chatbot usage in higher education.  \nKeywords: AI-based learning assistants, distance learning, higher education  \n1 Introduction  \nEducational chatbots and AI-based learning assistants are increasingly being implemented across various educational contexts, from primary to higher education, spanning diverse subjects from language learning [1, 2] to physics [3, 4] and nursing education [5] . Studies repeatedly highlight the potential of AI-based learning assistants to enhance student engagement [6], provide personalized learning experiences [7, 8], and support administrative functions [9, 10] .  \n2 AI-based Learning Assistants  \nIn our study, we investigate the usage of the AI-based learning assistant Syntea by students enrolled in distance studies at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) . Students use Syntea via a chatbot interface to engage with their course content. We analyze usage patterns across key demographic factors, including gender, age, study cluster, degree, and study mode, to better understand how students interact with the system in their everyday learning practices. Accordingly, our study follows the research question of how the usage of AI-based learning assistants differs across demographic and structural student characteristics and across temporal study routines in distance education.  \nHowever, there remains a notable research gap regarding large-scale analysis of student demographic factors and their influence on interaction patterns with AI-based learning assistants, particularly in distance learning environments. While studies have examined specific implementations and outcomes, comprehensive analyses of usage patterns across demographics at an institutional level are limited. The current study on Syntea usage at IU addresses this gap by analyzing a large-scale dataset of interactions between students and Syntea across various demographic and structural dimensions.  \nThis study makes three main contributions. First, it contributes large-scale descriptive evidence on the actual use of an AI-based learning assistant in higher education based on objective log data. Second, it identifies variation in usage patterns across demographic and structural factors, including gender, age, study cluster, degree, and study mode. Third, it provides an empirical foundation for the targeted refinement of AI-based learning support for diverse student populations in distance learning environments.  \n2 Synthetic Teaching at International University of Applied Sciences  \nSyntea is an AI-based learning assistant developed by IU to support students in their learning process and help them achieve their academic and career goals. It is integrate","cbCaiqNsptM9Q0UB","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqNsptM9Q0UB","pdf",1397531,1,17,"English","en",105,"# Introduction\n## AI-based Learning Assistants\n## Usage Patterns of AI-based Chatbots in Education","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of the study about Syntea in higher education?\",\"answer\":\"The study provides a large-scale descriptive analysis of how Syntea is used in distance learning and how usage patterns differ across student characteristics and routines.\"},{\"question\":\"What data source and scale are used to analyze Syntea usage?\",\"answer\":\"The analysis is based on objective log data from 77,543 students enrolled in distance studies.\"},{\"question\":\"Which student factors are used to explain differences in learning assistant usage?\",\"answer\":\"Usage patterns are examined across gender, age group, study cluster, degree, and study mode, and are considered alongside temporal study routines.\"}]",1784195352,43,{"code":4,"msg":30,"data":31},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":32,"title":13,"keywords":33,"description":14,"schema_data":34,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":27},"using-ai-based-learning-assistants-in-higher-education-a-large-scale-descriptive-analysis","",{"@graph":35,"@context":85},[36,53,68],{"@type":37,"itemListElement":38},"BreadcrumbList",[39,43,47,50],{"item":40,"name":41,"@type":42,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":44,"name":45,"@type":42,"position":46},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":48,"name":12,"@type":42,"position":49},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":51,"name":13,"@type":42,"position":52},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/using-ai-based-learning-assistants-in-higher-education-a-large-scale-descriptive-analysis/84404/",4,{"url":51,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":23,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":40,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-07-17","2026-07-16",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What is the purpose of the study about Syntea in higher education?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"The study provides a large-scale descriptive analysis of how Syntea is used in distance learning and how usage patterns differ across student characteristics and routines.","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"What data source and scale are used to analyze Syntea usage?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"The analysis is based on objective log data from 77,543 students enrolled in distance studies.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"Which student factors are used to explain differences in learning assistant usage?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"Usage patterns are examined across gender, age group, study cluster, degree, and study mode, and are considered alongside temporal study routines.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":51,"og:type":87,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":58,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":89,"canonical":51},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":24},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":92},[93,97,101,105,110,115,120,123,128,131,135],{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},30,"research-report",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":127},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":126,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":130},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":132,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":133,"show_sort_weight":132,"slug":134},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":136,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":45,"category_name":137,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":138},19,"General","general"]