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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Intelligent tutoring systems

Overview

  • Influence: Intelligent tutoring systems
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Tutoring/multimedia
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Intelligent tutoring systems aim to provide instructional advice on a one-on-one basis, and to develop and test models about the cognitive processes involved in instruction.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 5
  • Number of studies: 283
  • Number of students: 25,085
  • Number of effects: 288
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.52
  • Robustness index: 4

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Educational Psychologist VanLehn The Relative Effectiveness of Human Tutoring, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, and Other Tutoring Systems 2011 Intelligent tutoring systems 44 NA 44 0.76
Educational Research Review Gerard, Matuk, McElhaney, Linn Automated, adaptive guidance for K-12 education 2015 Automated, adaptive guidance 24 NA 29 0.34
Review of Educational Research Kulik & Fletcher Effectiveness of Intelligent Tutoring Systems: A Meta-Analytic Review 2016 Intelligent tutoring systems 50 NA 50 0.66
Journal of Educational Psychology Ma, Adesope, Nesbit, & Liu Intelligent tutoring systems and learning outcomes: A meta-analysis. 2014 Intelligent tutoring systems 107 14,321 107 0.41
China Distance Education Wang, Mao, & Yan A study on the impact of intelligent tutor systems on academic achievement: A quantitative meta-analysis perspective. 2019 Intelligent tutoring systems 58 10,764 58 0.49
TOTAL/AVERAGE 283 25,085 288 0.53
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