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AI as Shortcut or Tutor? How Generative AI Affects Student Learning

Inside U of A-Funded Scholarship

When

Noon – 1 p.m., Nov. 10, 2026

Where

ENR2, S107 and Virtual
A robotic hand and a human hand typing on a computer keyboard at a desk, with a monitor displaying code in the background. The image is overlaid with headshots of Jonathan Tullis, Laura Van Dorn, and Hosain Heshmati.

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming how students study, but do they actually improve learning? 

Featuring Jonathan Tullis, CUES Distinguished Fellow, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science, and Chair of the Cognitive Science Graduate Program, this hybrid seminar and panel will bring participants inside a CUES funded project and unpack its relevance for advancing teaching and learning at the University of Arizona (see abstract below).

Panelists:

  • Hosain Heshmati, Ph.D. Candidate, Educational Psychology, College of Education 
  • Laura Van Dorn, Associate Professor of Practice, Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science

Abstract

While AI can provide immediate answers and explanations, it may also replace the thinking and effort necessary for lasting learning. This talk will explore research examining when and how generative AI helps or hinders student learning. Drawing on experiments with college students, we'll examine what happens when AI answers questions for students, writes summaries, generates practice questions, and provides feedback. We'll discuss how these findings can inform the development of AI-powered tutoring tools and more effective teaching practices that harness AI to support, rather than replace, meaningful learning.
Inside UofA-Funded Scholarship Series