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TutorLLM: customizing learning recommendations with knowledge tracing and retrieval-augmented generation

TutorLLM: customizing learning recommendations with knowledge tracing and retrieval-augmented generation
TutorLLM: customizing learning recommendations with knowledge tracing and retrieval-augmented generation
The integration of AI in education offers significant potential to enhance learning efficiency. Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Llama, allow students to query a wide range of topics, providing unprecedented flexibility. However, LLMs face challenges, such as handling varying content relevance and lack of personalization. To address these challenges, we propose TutorLLM, a personalized learning recommender LLM system based on Knowledge Tracing (KT) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). The novelty of TutorLLM lies in its unique combination of KT and RAG techniques with LLMs, which enables dynamic retrieval of context-specific knowledge and provides personalized learning recommendations based on the student's personal learning state. Specifically, this integration allows TutorLLM to tailor responses based on individual learning states predicted by the Multi-Features with Latent Relations BERT-based KT (MLFBK) model and to enhance response accuracy with a Scraper model. The evaluation includes user assessment questionnaires and performance metrics, demonstrating a 10\% improvement in user satisfaction and a 5\% increase in quiz scores compared to using general LLMs alone.
cs.IR, cs.AI, cs.LG
0302-9743
137-146
Springer Cham
Li, Zhaoxing
65935c45-a640-496c-98b8-43bed39e1850
Yazdanpanah, Vahid
28f82058-5e51-4f56-be14-191ab5767d56
Wang, Jindi
64350549-9e22-4474-a609-bb88cb328e04
Gu, Wen
436e5be5-2063-42ad-bb04-45bed82e6985
Shi, Lei
b092e01b-e66b-48d8-becf-15618b5e5425
Cristea, Alexandra I.
e49d8136-3747-4a01-8fde-694151b7d718
Kiden, Sarah
6f5b463b-7e6e-43d4-abb9-bffb69980643
Stein, Sebastian
cb2325e7-5e63-475e-8a69-9db2dfbdb00b
Ardito, Carmelo
Barbosa, Simone Diniz Junqueira
Conte, Tayana
Freire, André
Gasparini, Isabela
Palanque, Philippe
Prates, Raquel
Li, Zhaoxing
65935c45-a640-496c-98b8-43bed39e1850
Yazdanpanah, Vahid
28f82058-5e51-4f56-be14-191ab5767d56
Wang, Jindi
64350549-9e22-4474-a609-bb88cb328e04
Gu, Wen
436e5be5-2063-42ad-bb04-45bed82e6985
Shi, Lei
b092e01b-e66b-48d8-becf-15618b5e5425
Cristea, Alexandra I.
e49d8136-3747-4a01-8fde-694151b7d718
Kiden, Sarah
6f5b463b-7e6e-43d4-abb9-bffb69980643
Stein, Sebastian
cb2325e7-5e63-475e-8a69-9db2dfbdb00b
Ardito, Carmelo
Barbosa, Simone Diniz Junqueira
Conte, Tayana
Freire, André
Gasparini, Isabela
Palanque, Philippe
Prates, Raquel

Li, Zhaoxing, Yazdanpanah, Vahid, Wang, Jindi, Gu, Wen, Shi, Lei, Cristea, Alexandra I., Kiden, Sarah and Stein, Sebastian (2025) TutorLLM: customizing learning recommendations with knowledge tracing and retrieval-augmented generation. Ardito, Carmelo, Barbosa, Simone Diniz Junqueira, Conte, Tayana, Freire, André, Gasparini, Isabela, Palanque, Philippe and Prates, Raquel (eds.) In Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2025. vol. 16110, Springer Cham. pp. 137-146 . (doi:10.48550/arXiv.2502.15709).

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

The integration of AI in education offers significant potential to enhance learning efficiency. Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Llama, allow students to query a wide range of topics, providing unprecedented flexibility. However, LLMs face challenges, such as handling varying content relevance and lack of personalization. To address these challenges, we propose TutorLLM, a personalized learning recommender LLM system based on Knowledge Tracing (KT) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). The novelty of TutorLLM lies in its unique combination of KT and RAG techniques with LLMs, which enables dynamic retrieval of context-specific knowledge and provides personalized learning recommendations based on the student's personal learning state. Specifically, this integration allows TutorLLM to tailor responses based on individual learning states predicted by the Multi-Features with Latent Relations BERT-based KT (MLFBK) model and to enhance response accuracy with a Scraper model. The evaluation includes user assessment questionnaires and performance metrics, demonstrating a 10\% improvement in user satisfaction and a 5\% increase in quiz scores compared to using general LLMs alone.

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2502.15709v1 - Author's Original
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Published date: 9 September 2025
Keywords: cs.IR, cs.AI, cs.LG

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 500710
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/500710
ISSN: 0302-9743
PURE UUID: 9630f2ee-ad49-404b-8cad-7a3239df6c92
ORCID for Zhaoxing Li: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3560-3461
ORCID for Vahid Yazdanpanah: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4468-6193
ORCID for Sarah Kiden: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2651-9620
ORCID for Sebastian Stein: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2858-8857

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 May 2025 16:32
Last modified: 23 Sep 2025 02:18

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Contributors

Author: Zhaoxing Li ORCID iD
Author: Vahid Yazdanpanah ORCID iD
Author: Jindi Wang
Author: Wen Gu
Author: Lei Shi
Author: Alexandra I. Cristea
Author: Sarah Kiden ORCID iD
Author: Sebastian Stein ORCID iD
Editor: Carmelo Ardito
Editor: Simone Diniz Junqueira Barbosa
Editor: Tayana Conte
Editor: André Freire
Editor: Isabela Gasparini
Editor: Philippe Palanque
Editor: Raquel Prates

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