This exploratory research conducted a thematic analysis of students’ experiences and utilization of AI tools by students in educational settings. We surveyed 87 undergraduates from two different educational courses at a comprehensive university in Western Canada. Nine integral themes that represent AI’s role in student learning and key issues with respect to AI have been identified. The study yielded three critical insights: the potential of AI to expand educational access for a diverse student body, the necessity for robust ethical frameworks to govern AI, and the benefits of personalized AI-driven support. Based on the results, a model is proposed along with recommendations for an optimal learning environment, where AI facilitates meaningful learning. We argue that integrating AI tools into learning has the potential to promote inclusivity and accessibility by making learning more accessible to diverse students. We also advocate for a shift in perception among educational stakeholders towards AI, calling for de-stigmatization of its use in education. Overall, our findings suggest that academic institutions should establish clear, empirical guidelines defining student conduct with respect to what is considered appropriate AI use.

In scientific inquiry learning, within-task guidance tailored to the learner’s domain knowledge and inquiry skill may be essential to promote intended learning outcomes. However, due to dynamic complexity across the timeline of inquiry learning, principles for designing tailored guidance are elusive. In this study, experienced tutors provided just-in-time guidance to 11 learners. We analysed tutor-learner interactions to investigate how tutors adapted guidance. We found tutors provided five types of guidance: prompts, support for domain knowledge, assessments, hints, and feedback. Guidance was provided when learners made errors, expressed difficulties, or asked questions; or when the tutor judged a learner successfully demonstrated a skill and was ready to progress to a follow-on skill. Based on these results, we propose a model for tailored, just-in-time guidance in simulation-assisted inquiry learning environments.