The Impact of Artificial Intelligence-Based Tutoring Systems on Developing Mathematical Reasoning among Secondary School Students.
Dr. Sokaina S Alakayleh , Department of Curricula & Instruction, Yarmouk University, Jordan.Abstract
This study examines the impact of AI-based tutoring systems on developing mathematical reasoning among secondary school students. It investigates the overall effect on reasoning skills, the influence on reasoning components (conjecture, justification, representation, and metacognition), the relationship between students’ interaction behaviors and reasoning performance, and the perceptions of students and teachers. Pedagogical and contextual factors affecting AI effectiveness are also explored.
A quasi-experimental design was employed with 120 students from Ibn Majid and Ibn Khaldun Schools in Amman, with each school contributing an experimental group (receiving AI-based tutoring) and a control group (following traditional teaching methods), each consisting of 30 students. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, engagement logs, surveys, and interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using t-tests, effect sizes, and correlation analyses, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
Results showed that AI tutoring significantly improved overall reasoning, with all components positively influenced—particularly conjecture and representation. Higher engagement and frequent interaction were strongly associated with better outcomes. Students and teachers reported positive perceptions, and effective AI implementation depended on teacher guidance, scaffolding, and a supportive learning environment.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Mathematical Reasoning, Secondary Education, Student Engagement
References
Anderson, J. R., Boyle, C. F., & Reiser, B. J. (1985). Intelligent tutoring systems. Science, 228(4698), 456–462. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3992248
Bastani, H., Smith, J., & Lee, K. (2024). Effects of generative AI tutors on mathematical reasoning: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Educational Technology Research, 21(2), 45–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-024-01123-7
Bastani, H., et al. (2024). Generative AI can harm learning: Evidence from high school mathematics [Working paper]. SSRN.
Bismark, K., Osei, M., & Nyarko, E. (2025). AI-powered mobile tutoring and student performance in mathematics: Evidence from Ghana. Education and Information Technologies, 30(2), 1123–1142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40797-025-00354-1
Boero, P. (2006). The role of mathematical reasoning in problem solving. In Handbook of Research on the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 229–264). Sense Publishers.
Chou, C. Y., Tsai, C. C., & Lin, P. S. (2022). Enhancing mathematical reasoning through metacognitive AI feedback. Computers & Education, 187, 104572.
Chou, P. N., Hsiao, C. Y., & Chen, Y. T. (2022). The effect of AI-based metacognitive tutoring on secondary students’ mathematical reasoning. Computers & Education, 182, 104463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104463
Conner, A. (2017). Exploring mathematical reasoning: Foundations and frameworks. Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 46, 1–12.
Ferreira, T., & Klaassen, S. (2025). ChatGPT as a simulated student for developing teachers’ reasoning-based questioning. Science & Education, 34(5), 221–240.
Gortazar, L., Hupkau, C., & Roldán-Monés, A. (2024). Intelligent tutoring systems in secondary mathematics: A meta-analysis of K–12 outcomes. Computers & Education, 210, 104658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104658
Gortazar, L., Hupkau, C., & Roldán-Monés, A. (2024). Online tutoring works: Experimental evidence from a program with vulnerable children. Journal of Public Economics.
Jančařík, A., Pešková, K., & Jindrová, M. (2023). Chatbots in mathematics education: An intelligent tutoring approach. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 61(3), 412–438.
Jančařík, L., Novák, M., & Šimek, T. (2023). Enhancing algebraic reasoning through a chatbot-based AI tutor. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 26(1), 112–127. https://doi.org/10.2307/26969999
Knowledge@Wharton. (2024, August). Generative AI in education: Balancing guidance and independent reasoning. Knowledge@Wharton. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/generative-ai-education/
Knowledge@Wharton. (2024, August). Without guardrails, generative AI can harm education. University of Pennsylvania.
Lin, C. C., et al. (2023). Artificial intelligence in intelligent tutoring systems toward sustainable education: Review and perspectives. Smart Learning Environments, 10(1), 1–23.
Lin, Y. (2023). AI-based tutoring systems for promoting mathematical reasoning: A review of adaptive feedback and metacognitive scaffolding. Educational Technology & Society, 26(4), 89–104.
Mredula, R., Sharma, K., & Patel, S. (2024). Artificial intelligence in mathematics classrooms: A systematic analysis of research trends. International Review of Educational Artificial Intelligence, 9(1), 45–63.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). (2020). Catalyzing change in high school mathematics: Initiating critical conversations. NCTM.
Niño-Rojas, F., López, M., & Pérez, C. (2024). Systematic review: Trends in intelligent tutoring systems in mathematics teaching and learning (2003–2023). Computers in Education Journal, 45(2), 112–129.
Niño-Rojas, V., Pineda, L., & Castillo, J. (2024). Fostering mathematical reasoning in secondary education: A meta-analysis. International Journal of STEM Education, 11(1), 57–73.
Niño-Rojas, M., García, R., & Pérez, J. (2024). Adaptive AI tutors and student problem-solving in secondary mathematics: Evidence from classroom implementations. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 34(1), 75–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-024-00298-1
Nkambou, R., Bourdeau, J., & Mizoguchi, R. (2010). Advances in intelligent tutoring systems. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13470-8
Piaget, J. (1973). To understand is to invent: The future of education. Grossman.
Son, H. (2024). Intelligent tutoring systems and mathematical reasoning: Design principles, empirical findings, and future directions. Journal of Research in Mathematics Education, 55(3), 221–245. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.55.3.0221
Son, J. (2024). Twenty years of intelligent tutoring systems in mathematics education: A systematic review. Computers, 13(10), 270.
Son, T. (2024). Intelligent tutoring systems in mathematics education: A systematic review (2003–2023). Computers, 13(2), 45–66.
Stylianides, A. J. (2009). Reasoning-and-proving in school mathematics textbooks. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 11(4), 258–288.
VanLehn, K. (2006). The behavior of tutoring systems. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 16(3), 227–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-016-0103-0
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Woolf, B. P. (2021). Building intelligent interactive tutors: Student-centered strategies for revolutionizing e-learning. Morgan Kaufmann.
Article Statistics
Downloads
Copyright License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Sokaina S Alakayleh

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright of their manuscripts, and all Open Access articles are disseminated under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY), which licenses unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is appropriately cited. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.


Applied Sciences
| Open Access |
DOI: