Do I still need a tutor even with the rise of AI?

We’ve talked a lot lately about the rise of AI, particularly with tools like ChatGPT becoming household names. These technologies offer instant help across different subjects, schools of thoughts, and disciplines, so it’s no surprise that many wonder whether AI might be giving human tutors the boot.

At the click of a button, generative chat applications and models provide instant explanations and comprehensive summaries to complex questions, which can mean some users forego the need to research independently or engage more deeply with the material. Are there dangers to taking AI answers at face value? And will students still need a tutors even with the rise of AI?

The tutoring landscape is changing, not disappearing. AI is here to stay, but so are real-life tutors, especially those who understand how to use technology strategically. Tutors are experts who can teach students how to fact-check, how to think critically, and how to learn holistically in ways that AI cannot replicate.

What AI can and can’t (yet!) do for students

From generating practice questions to providing quick answers and everything in between, AI offers impressive academic support and it’s no small wonder that, according to one study, a whopping 83.5% of students believe that AI improves their learning efficiency by facilitating quick access to educational resources. To add to this, more than a third of college-aged students in America use ChatGPT and that number only looks to increase as the technology grows.

That said, for all its speed and popularity, AI can confidently return incorrect or misleading answers, which brings us back to our initial question of taking chatbot responses at face value. Human tutors therefore play a crucial role in developing a student’s digital competency, like evaluating source credibility by encouraging questioning and guiding analysis rather than spoon-feeding.

Moreover, AI doesn’t yet understand the cognitive nuances of each student, especially those with special educational needs (SEN). AI is not yet able to adapt to a student’s mindset or preferred learning style and can’t gauge when a child is confused or demotivated. 

Meanwhile, an experienced tutor can adapt their teaching and can offer a more nuanced and holistic understanding of texts or experiments. They can also build confidence and provide that little bit of motivation a student may need with the human touch: encouragement and empathy.

Using AI as a tool: a blended approach with tutors

Rather than viewing AI as competition, many of the best tutors are already integrating AI into their sessions to generate resources. For example, in tutoring a humanities subject, tutors may generate different interpretations of an excerpt within a text or a historical event and compare this to textbook versions in order to  teach critical thinking and analysis about AI-generated answers. Factual inconsistencies or missing context can also be examined collaboratively with the student.

By using AI thoughtfully, tutors can encourage students to evaluate the accuracy, structure and bias of AI-generated responses, which not only teaches valuable digital literacy but also critical thinking skills, which will be invaluable in exam settings. Moreover, students take more ownership in their learning and become more capable of using AI wisely - not blindly.

Tutors can also use AI beyond lesson planning. AI can streamline admin tasks and reinforce learning all while allowing tutors to remain focused on their students’ needs.

What parents and tutors should know

How can parents decide whether their child needs summer tutoring or in fact any tutoring at all? It’s important to consider whether the student is falling behind, losing motivation, or simply not connecting with classroom teaching. In these instances, a human tutor is still necessary to instil the confidence and guidance a struggling student may need, rather than AI.

For instance, if the curriculum were to change in September, enlisting the help of a human tutor might be more appropriate than ever.

Parents should increasingly value tutors who are comfortable with tech, aware of AI’s capabilities and limits, and confident in helping students navigate this new system. Doubling down on avoiding AI altogether will mean that a stubborn tutor may fall behind in their delivery of an effective and engaging lesson for the modern student.

Ultimately, it’s about balance: real people, powered by ‘real’-ly smart tools.

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Blog Post Crafted by Cheryl

Cheryl manages our Admin Team, and is a qualified teacher with 5 years' experience in schools across England and Canada.

Cheryl graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Education. She tutored secondary school students in English for over nine years in Canada.

Cheryl speaks Cantonese, English and French, and in her spare time, she can be found illustrating and reading children’s books for inspiration.