Learnosity launches Feedback Aide to address teacher workload and support student learning

Learnosity has announced the release of Feedback Aide, an AI-driven grading tool designed to reduce teacher workload and improve student learning outcomes.

The tool is part of Learnosity’s broader mission to leverage technology in education, providing an AI solution that automates essay grading, allowing educators to deliver timely and personalised feedback.

Feedback Aide uses machine learning algorithms to assess student essays and provide instant feedback on areas such as grammar, structure, and content. The AI tool claims to free teachers from the repetitive task of grading, which the Merrimack College Teacher Survey reports consumes an average of five hours per week. The tool also integrates easily into existing learning platforms via API, making it a flexible solution for edtech companies looking to incorporate AI into their products.

Gavin Cooney, CEO of Learnosity, highlighted the value of the tool during the announcement: 

“Learnosity leverages API technology to power learning experiences for a movement of global innovators. With this expertise, we can abstract complex AI models into easy-to-use APIs, enabling our customers—learning platforms used by teachers—to access cutting-edge AI capabilities through simple API calls.”

However, questions remain about whether AI marking tools are mature enough to fully replicate the nuanced and critical feedback that human teachers provide. Learnosity states that Feedback Aide achieves a Quadratic Weighted Kappa (QWK) score of 0.88, indicating that its grading accuracy is comparable to that of a good human grader.

Yet, as a recent study from Carousel Learning shows, AI technology in education is still in its infancy.  The AI marking study examined the potential of AI in marking students' work. 

It found while AI is highly effective in automating tasks like marking multiple-choice tests or offering instant feedback on grammar, it remains unclear whether AI can handle marking deeper comprehension tasks that require human insight.

The release of Feedback Aide comes amidst a broader trend of AI adoption aimed at addressing issues like teacher burnout and turnover, which has reached as high as 19% in some U.S. states, according to the National Education Association.

 In urban districts, the costs of hiring new teachers due to high turnover rates are significant, with estimates reaching $220 million annually in New York City alone.

Learnosity’s CEO remains optimistic about the future of AI in education:

“As teacher workloads reach a breaking point, AI-powered grading offers a solution to the crisis. Acting as a super-powered grading assistant, Feedback Aide frees up teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching. Ultimately, the goal is to help teachers reclaim their time and energy, which in turn improves the learning experience for students.”