Cited by 1,002Artificial Intelligence in EducationIntelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive LearningOnline Learning and Analytics

Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Open access
Wang, Shan, Wang, Fang, Zhu, Zhen, Wang, Jingxuan, Tran, Tam, Du, Zhao·2024·Expert Systems with Applications

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) in education (AIED) has evolved into a substantial body of literature with diverse perspectives. In this review paper, we seek insights into three critical questions: (1) What are the primary categories of AI applications explored in the education field? (2) What are the predominant research topics and their key findings? (3) What is the status of major research design elements, including guiding theories, methodologies, and research contexts? A bibliometric analysis of 2,223 research articles followed by a content analysis of selected 125 papers reveals a comprehensive conceptual structure of the existing literature. The extant AIED research spans a wide spectrum of applications, encompassing those for adaptive learning and personalized tutoring, intelligent assessment and management, profiling and prediction, and emerging products. Research topics delve into both the technical design of education systems and the examination of the adoption, impacts, and challenges associated with AIED. Furthermore, this review highlights the diverse range of theories applied in the AIED literature, the multidisciplinary nature of publication venues, and underexplored research areas. In sum, this research offers valuable insights for interested scholars to comprehend the current state of AIED research and identify future research opportunities in this dynamic field.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.eswa.2024.124167

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125 of 125 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The rapid evolution and widespread availability of generative AI tools have significantly reshaped the landscape of higher education.

    “The rapid evolution and widespread availability of generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI) tools have significantly reshaped the landscape of higher education (Samala et al., 2025; S. Wang et al., 2024).”
  • The diversity of journals suggests that the topic transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, attracting attention from both educational technology specialists and researchers in broader pedagogical and computational domains.

    “This diversity suggests that the topic transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, attracting attention from both educational technology specialists and researchers in broader pedagogical and computational domains [37].”
  • Compared to earlier studies, this analysis offers a deeper categorization and highlights the tension between AI's potential and its limitations.

    “Compared to earlier studies [19,37], this analysis offers a deeper categorization and highlights the tension between AI's potential and its limitations.”
  • Research by Younas et al. and Wang et al. found that intelligent tutoring systems and gamified AI applications promote student interest and self-directed learning.

    “These findings align with research by Younas et al. [59] and Wang et al. [37], which have also found that intelligent tutoring systems and gamified AI applications promote student interest and self-directed learning.”

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Authors
Wang, S., Wang, F., Zhu, Z., Wang, J., Tran, T., & Du, Z.
Affiliations
  • University of Saskatchewan (CA)
  • Wilfrid Laurier University (CA)
  • China University of Geosciences (CN)
  • Beijing Sport University (CN)
Corresponding author
Wang, Fang
Venue
Expert Systems with Applications
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-10
Volume
252
Pages
124167
ISSN
0957-4174 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4396766974
Cited by
977
References
126
Citations by year
2026: 512 · 2025: 418 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 3
FWCI
57.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Expert Systems with Applications (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Online Learning and Analytics
Keywords
artificial intelligence in education, adaptive learning, personalized tutoring, intelligent assessment, student profiling, educational technology adoption, research gaps

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