Human vs. AI Feedback: What Really Helps Preservice Teachers Learn?

 

 

By Xi Lin

 

As artificial intelligence becomes more common in education, one important question emerges: Can AI provide feedback as effectively as humans, especially in teacher preparation?

 

A recent study explores this question by comparing AI-generated feedback (ChatGPT) with human peer feedback in a literacy methods course for preservice teachers. The findings offer timely insights into how future educators learn, reflect, and improve their teaching practice in an AI-supported world.

 

Why Feedback Matters in Teacher Education

Feedback plays a central role in helping preservice teachers improve their lesson planning, critical thinking, and instructional decision-making. Traditionally, peer review has been widely used to support:

 

• Reflective thinking
• Collaborative learning
• Pedagogical development

 

With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, feedback is no longer limited to human interaction. AI can now provide instant, rubric-based suggestions, raising an important question:

“Does faster feedback mean better learning?”

 

The Study: AI vs. Human Peer Review

The study used a quasi-experimental design with 25 preservice teachers:

• 👥 Human feedback group (n = 9): Students reviewed each other’s lesson plans in class
• 🤖 AI feedback group (n = 16): Students used ChatGPT to generate feedback

 

All students:

1. Created a guided reading lesson plan
2. Received feedback (human or AI)
3. Revised their work
4. Reflected on the feedback experience

 

Data included:

• Survey results (critical thinking and peer learning)
• Open-ended responses
• Written reflections

 

Key Findings: What Did We Learn?

1. Both AI and Humans Support Critical Thinking

Students in both groups reported improved critical thinking.

 

AI helped by:

• Providing structured, rubric-aligned feedback
• Identifying gaps quickly
• Supporting revision efficiency

 

This suggests that AI can function as a useful cognitive scaffold, helping students refine their work.

 

2. Only Human Feedback Fostered Peer Learning

Here is where the difference becomes clear:

• Human feedback → significantly improved peer learning
• AI feedback → no significant effect on peer learning

 

Why? Students emphasized that human interaction provides:

• Dialogue and discussion
• Shared understanding
• Immediate clarification
• Emotional support

 

In contrast, AI lacks true interaction and collaboration, which are essential for peer learning.

 

3. Strengths and Weaknesses of AI Feedback

Strengths of AI:

• ⏱️ Immediate and always available
• 📊 Strong alignment with rubrics
• 🧾 Detailed and structured suggestions

 

Limitations of AI:

• ❗ Sometimes irrelevant or inaccurate
• 🤖 Lacks contextual understanding
• 💬 Feels impersonal or “robotic”
• 🔁 Can be inconsistent across responses

 

Some students even questioned its reliability and authenticity.

 

4. Human Feedback Brings What AI Cannot

 

Human peer feedback stood out for:

• ❤️ Emotional support and encouragement
• 🎯 Contextual relevance (real classroom understanding)
• 🤝 Trust and collaboration
• 🧠 Pedagogical nuance

 

Students reported feeling:

• More confident
• More engaged
• More supported

 

These socio-emotional and relational aspects are still beyond AI’s current capabilities.

 

The Future: A Hybrid Feedback Model

Rather than choosing between AI and humans, the study suggests a more effective approach:

 

Combine both!

 

AI for:

• Fast, structured, rubric-based feedback
• Identifying surface-level issues

 

Humans for:

• Deep discussion and reflection
• Emotional and contextual support
• Collaborative meaning-making

 

A hybrid feedback model may provide the best of both worlds.

 

Implications for Educators

For teacher educators and instructional designers:

• ✔ Use AI as a support tool, not a replacement
• ✔ Teach students how to critically evaluate AI feedback
• ✔ Design activities that include both AI and human interaction
• ✔ Emphasize AI literacy and ethical use

Final Thoughts

AI is transforming education—but not in a way that replaces human connection.

This study shows that while AI can enhance efficiency and support critical thinking,
Human interaction remains essential for meaningful learning.

 

👉 The future of education is not AI or humans.
👉 It is AI and humans—working together.

 

Reference

Yang-Heim, G. Y. A., & Lin, X. (2026). Preservice teachers’ perceptions of AI-and human-generated feedback on lesson plans. Cogent Education, 13(1), 2624898. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2026.2624898

 

Empowering Adult Learners with AI: The Future of Education Is Here

 

By Xi Lin

 

You’re an adult learner juggling a full-time job, family responsibilities, and the burning desire to upskill. You’ve heard the buzz about AI in education, but is it just another tech fad, or can it actually make your learning journey smoother, smarter, and more effective? Let’s dive into the insights from a recent study by Lin and Schmidt (2025) to find out what AI can really do for you—and what you need to watch out for.

 

The Promise of AI in Adult Education

 

Imagine a learning experience tailored just for you, available anytime, anywhere. That’s the dream of AI in Adult Education (AIAD). The study by Lin and Schmidt (2025) explores how AI, specifically ChatGPT, can be integrated into online adult learning by aligning with Knowles’ four principles of andragogy: involvement, experience, problem-centeredness, and relevance. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

 

1. Involvement: Learners Shape Their Own Learning

In one activity, adult learners used ChatGPT to discuss course topics. They crafted their own prompts, interpreted AI responses, and reflected critically on the content. This high degree of involvement not only made learning more engaging but also empowered learners to take ownership of their educational journey.

 

2. Experience: Building on What You Already Know

Adult learners bring a wealth of life and work experience to the classroom. In another activity, learners assigned ChatGPT roles related to their professional fields and explored those roles through simulated interviews. This experiential learning allowed them to apply AI tools to real-world problems, reinforcing their existing knowledge and skills.

 

3. Problem-Centeredness: Solving Real-World Challenges

AI can help learners tackle complex, real-world problems. In a third activity, students used ChatGPT to get feedback on their assignments. This problem-centered approach not only provided immediate feedback but also encouraged learners to think critically about how to apply AI-generated suggestions to improve their work.

 

4. Relevance: Learning That Matters

All activities were designed to be relevant to learners’ academic and professional goals. Whether it was generating discussion content, simulating professional interactions, or improving academic writing, AI tools were used to support practical, goal-oriented learning.

 

The Benefits of AI in Learning

 

Efficiency and Accessibility

ChatGPT provides immediate responses, reducing the delays often associated with waiting for instructor feedback or peer interaction. This asynchronous nature of AI tools is a game-changer for adult learners balancing multiple responsibilities.

 

Engagement and Reflection

AI integration encourages learners to think deeply, reflect critically, and participate frequently. Structured activities with reflective tasks help learners construct knowledge progressively, developing both content knowledge and skills for interacting meaningfully with AI.

 

The Challenges of AI in Learning

 

Shallow Responses

While ChatGPT can generate coherent text, it often lacks depth, nuance, or context sensitivity. This can limit its utility in situations requiring personalized or emotionally intelligent feedback.

 

Overreliance and Trust Issues

Learners appreciate the accessibility of AI but are hesitant about how much to trust its responses, especially regarding accuracy or appropriateness. This highlights the need for critical evaluation of AI’s role as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for human educators.

 

Emotional Disconnect

In role-play interviews, some learners found ChatGPT’s simulated human tone unsettling, leading to discomfort and diminished learning value. This underscores the importance of critical reflection on how AI is positioned in the learning environment.

 

The Role of Educators in the AI Age

 

The study shows a significant shift in educators’ roles from content deliverers to facilitators of AI-supported and learner-centered activities. Faculty developed new competencies in prompt engineering, AI literacy, and instructional design for critical engagement. This adaptation reflects the need for professional development that supports adult educators in integrating AI tools within asynchronous online learning.

 

The Future of AI in Adult Education

 

The study concludes that AI has the potential to enhance adult learning when used to support learner autonomy, experiential learning, problem-solving, and relevance to real-world goals. However, it also highlights the need for careful implementation, ethical considerations, and continuous faculty development.

 

 

As an adult learner, you can embrace AI as a powerful tool to make your learning journey more efficient, engaging, and relevant. But remember, AI is your co-pilot, not your driver. Use it wisely, critically, and always with a human touch.

 

Ready to co-pilot your upskill? Your move.

 

Reference

Lin, X., & Schmidt, S. W. (2025). Empowering Online Adult Educators: Integrating Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Instructional Strategies. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.70011

 

 

How ChatGPT Transforms Online Discussions

 

By Dr. Xi Lin

 

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, instructors constantly search for innovative strategies to engage students, foster critical thinking, and enhance online discussions. A recent study by Lin et al. (2024) explores how integrating ChatGPT into asynchronous online discussions can significantly improve student participation, engagement, and learning outcomes. If you are an educator navigating the digital classroom, understanding the role of AI in student discussions might be the game-changer you need.

 

The Challenge of Online Discussions

One of the biggest struggles in asynchronous online courses is limited student contribution (LSC)—a scenario where students fail to engage meaningfully in discussion boards. Many factors contribute to LSC, including unclear expectations, lack of critical thinking skills, or uncertainty about what to contribute. Without active participation, online discussions can become monotonous and fail to provide the depth of learning that fosters intellectual growth.

 

How ChatGPT Enhances Online Discussions

This study highlights how integrating ChatGPT into discussion boards significantly increases participation rates. Students using ChatGPT were more engaged, contributed more frequently, and found discussions more stimulating. But how exactly does ChatGPT enhance these discussions?

1. Generating Thought-Starters: ChatGPT can help students overcome the “blank page” syndrome by generating initial ideas, structuring responses, and prompting deeper reflection.
2. Encouraging Critical Thinking: Students were encouraged to critique and expand upon ChatGPT’s answers instead of simply accepting AI-generated responses, fostering deeper engagement with course materials.
3. Bridging Knowledge Gaps: Students who struggled with certain topics found that ChatGPT provided helpful explanations, allowing them to participate confidently in discussions.
4. Fostering Peer Interactions: Seeing how others interacted with ChatGPT encouraged more engagement, with students learning from and responding to diverse perspectives.
   
   

Best Practices for Using ChatGPT in Online Teaching

While the benefits of using ChatGPT in online discussions are clear, it is essential to implement this tool strategically to avoid pitfalls like over-reliance or surface-level engagement. Here are some best practices for educators:

• Establish Clear Guidelines: Students should use ChatGPT as a starting point, not a replacement for their own critical thinking. Encourage them to analyze, critique, and personalize AI-generated responses.
• Encourage Reflection: Instructors can require students to reflect on how ChatGPT’s responses shaped their understanding, reinforcing deeper learning.
• Promote Diverse Engagement: Ask students to compare AI-generated insights with peer responses, academic readings, or personal experiences.
• Monitor for Over-Reliance: Ensure students are not merely copying and pasting ChatGPT’s answers but engaging with the tool meaningfully.

 

Final Thoughts

The integration of ChatGPT in online discussions represents a smart strategy for modern teaching. When used appropriately, it acts as a catalyst for engagement, enhances student confidence, and fosters critical thinking. By guiding students to use AI as a tool for exploration rather than a crutch, educators can create more interactive, insightful, and effective online learning experiences.

Are you ready to transform your online discussions with AI? Start experimenting with ChatGPT in your next class and watch how it reshapes student engagement and learning outcomes!

 

Reference

Lin, X., Luterbach, K., Gregory, K. H., & Sconyers, S. E. (2024). A Case Study Investigating the Utilization of ChatGPT in Online Discussions. Online Learning, 28(2), n2. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v28i2.4407