Future-Proofing Programmers: Optimal knowledge tracing for artificial intelligence-assisted personalized education [Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence for Education: A Signal Processing Perspective]

Learning to learn is becoming a science, driven by the convergence of knowledge tracing, signal processing, and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to model student learning states and optimize education. We propose CoTutor, an AI-driven model that enhances Bayesian knowledge tracing (BKT) with signal processing techniques to improve student progress modeling and deliver adaptive feedback and strategies. Deployed as an AI copilot, CoTutor combines GenAI with adaptive learning technology. In university trials, it has demonstrated measurable improvements in learning outcomes while outperforming conventional educational tools. Our results highlight its potential for AI-driven personalization, scalability, and future opportunities for advancing privacy and ethical considerations in educational technology. Inspired by Richard Hamming’s vision of computer-aided “learning to learn,” CoTutor applies convex optimization and signal processing to automate and scale up learning analytics, while reserving pedagogical judgment for humans, ensuring that AI facilitates the process of knowledge tracing while enabling learners to uncover new insights.