Replacing written assignments with a dialogue with AI: 305 Indian students were more engaged, but no more knowledgeable

In India, students spent more time on activities involving dialogue with an AI, whether in writing or orally. The gain in knowledge, however, remained the same as for the written assignment.

With the great language models, a written duty can be rendered without the student really having to deal with the content. Researchers, including René Kizilcec and Aditya Vashistha, tested an alternative: turning exercise into conversation with an AI. The field study included 305 students from the state of Karnataka, whose mother tongue is Kannada but who are enrolled in English-language schools.

Written, text or voice, English or bilingual

The students were divided between a classical written duty and dialogues with AI, in writing or in the oral, either in English alone or by mixing kannada and English. Dialogists spent more time, produced more and expressed more interest and confidence in them, even though a smaller share of them went to the end of the activity. Knowledge has progressed everywhere, with no clear gap between formats or languages.

Bilingualism has mainly helped in the speech: it has reduced difficulties of expression, multiplied exchanges showing understanding and limited abandonments. Students, however, remain committed to English for their professional ambitions. The authors argue to let the learner choose the modality and rhythm, and to use the mother tongue as support rather than as a substitute.