The TETL Research Group at Oakland Univerity explores how digital tools and AI can improve teaching and learning across educational settings. We study how technology can make instruction more engaging, personalized, and effective, while supporting teachers in designing meaningful learning experiences. Our work combines research on pedagogy, instructional design, and learning analytics to understand how technology can enhance learning outcomes and foster critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity among students.
Ghaida Alrawashdeh, PhD - PI
Emily McNamara, MATSE English Student - GA
Qingxian Wang, PhD Student - GA
Xunmei Luo, PhD Student - GA
Rebecca Vornberger, PhD Student
Alumni
Danielle Alexander, PhD
Yujie Mao, PhD Student - GA
This project aims to examine how widely used LLMs score adolescent-authored writing when demographic indicators are either included or withheld. Rather than focusing solely on numeric scores, we analyze the accompanying natural language rationales LLMs provide to understand how identity cues may shape the values and interpretations applied to student writing.
Beyond the Score: Demographic Influence on AI Justifications in Writing Assessment (2026). American Educational Research Association (AERA), Los Angeles, USA.
Fairness vs. Overcorrection: Investigating Input Effects in AI-Powered Writing Assessment (2026). American Educational Research Association (AERA), Los Angeles, USA.
Fairness and Consistency in AI Writing Assessment: The Impact of Demographic Inputs and Rubric-Based Scoring(2026). Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), San Francisco, USA.
Feedback or Filtering? AI and the Reproduction of Rhetorical Norms(2026). Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), San Francisco, USA.
This Project explores how AI-driven personalized and adaptive learning (PAL) tools can transform early literacy instruction by tailoring content, assessment, and feedback to meet the unique needs of each student. AI tools provide real-time insights that help educators move beyond traditional assessment methods and deliver customized feedback that supports individual growth and development. By focusing on the design of these AI tools, we discuss how they can be leveraged to create more inclusive, efficient learning experiences. We also examine how personalized content delivery and assessment tools can support differentiated instruction and foster a growth mindset in young learners. We present a set of ethical guidelines to ensure safe and equitable AI applications, including considerations around bias and privacy. Drawing on current AI products, the chapter uses case studies to illustrate how these tools are being designed and deployed to support personalized learning, assessment, and feedback in preschool and primary settings.
Vornberger, R., Alrawashdeh, G. S., & Alexander, D. (2026). Transforming Early Literacy With AI-Driven Personalized Content Assessment and Feedback: A Review of Six Tools. In S. Papadakis (Ed.), Virtual Tutors and AI-Powered Instructional Tools in K-12 Settings (pp. 155-172). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-2637-5.ch005
Alrawashdeh, G. S., Castillo, N. M. (2025). Student agency in personalized and adaptive learning technologies: From conceptualization to application. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13772-6
Alrawashdeh, G.S., Castillo, N.M. (2025). Responsible AI in Personalized Adaptive Learning: A Global Review of 40 Products. In: Papadakis, S. (eds) AI Roles and Responsibilities in Education. Signals and Communication Technology. Springer, Cham, 171–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-96855-6_8.