Learning at your own pace is useful. But what if you need another example, a short summary or a different explanation? An AI tutor makes room for questions inside the course.
Rise 360 from Articulate has been surprising me lately. First with the possibilities of vibe coding and custom code blocks — thanks to Petr Herrmann for the inspiration. Then with its AI tutor. Another toy for technology enthusiasts? I’m more interested in what it could change for the person doing the learning.
When I tried the AI tutor, a button inside the course opened a chat. Learners could ask about the content, request a short overview, find a topic or explore the context. They could do this without switching windows and interrupting what they were working on.
Articulate presents it as part of the learning experience: responses draw on the course content. That matters. It gives learners a basis for further questions, rather than simply adding a general-purpose chatbot beside a lesson.
E-learning has long allowed people to work at their own pace and at a time that suits them. But choosing your pace is not the same as finding your own route to understanding. A course can still feel like a solid block: one explanation for everyone. And that explanation will not suit everyone.
Adults bring different experiences, knowledge and ways of thinking to learning. One person needs a small clarification. Another wants a concise summary. Someone else wants a discussion, a critical look at an argument or a different example. Course designers cannot anticipate every question.
This is where an AI tutor makes sense to me. It offers another way to work with the content and can communicate in the learner’s language. Even a global course can become a little more personal. That is more interesting than the mere presence of a chat window.
P.S. The illustration shows me as an AI tutor in an LMS. AI made me look rather tougher than I am. In real life, questions are very welcome.
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