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A New Era of Personalized Learning: Introducing Neighbuddy

Kyoto City University's Digital Campus Bureau (DCB) recently launched an innovative project integrating an interactive AI learning assistant called 'Neighbuddy'. Starting in the fall of 2024, this initiative seeks to optimize personalized education by utilizing AI technology designed specifically for student needs. Remarkably, even in its initial phases, a staggering 85.9% of students expressed their desire to continue using this AI tool, highlighting the growing anticipation surrounding its practical application.

The advent of Neighbuddy underscores a progressive shift in educational approaches, transforming solitary study into an engaging dialogue. It directly tackles common student challenges such as the reluctance to ask questions or difficulties in maintaining study momentum. By lowering psychological barriers associated with independent learning, Neighbuddy offers tailored learning experiences aimed at sustainable educational growth.

Features and Educational Value of Neighbuddy

• - Personalized Responses: Leveraging students' class notes and dialogue history, the AI provides individualized support.
• - Conversational Learning: Casual chats serve as gateways to deepen and expand learning while keeping students engaged.
• - Motivation for Revision: Neighbuddy naturally fosters a routine of review through reflective questions and quizzes.
• - Learning Science Integration: The AI is designed based on principles like Active Recall, Spaced Learning, and Metacognition, facilitating self-adjusted learning.
• - Encouragement to Interact: By reducing the hurdles for initial inquiries, the AI promotes proactive scholarly engagement from students.

Pilot Implementation Progress (By Spring 2025)

• - Desired Continuation Rate: An impressive 85.9% of participating students wish to keep using the AI.
• - Concern Over Loss of Access: 56.2% expressed that it would be problematic if the AI were unavailable.
• - Current Test Group: Approximately 100 students are actively engaged in ongoing trials of Neighbuddy.

Feedback from Students

Students have positively noted that Neighbuddy encourages a casual approach to inquiries.

• - “The ease of initiating conversation with AI makes it feel more accessible for casual questions.”
• - “Compared to other AIs, Neighbuddy provides a sense of companionship.”
• - “It helps organize my thoughts, enabling me to view them more objectively.”

Insights from Educators

Daisaku Yoshida, an Associate Professor at the Product Design Department, emphasizes how Neighbuddy is designed to motivate students to engage with AI seamlessly. He noted, “It acts as a companion during classes and self-study, enriching the learning experience through dialogues.” Furthermore, he believes that Neighbuddy has great potential by assisting in studying patterns, often neglected in traditional academic settings, and enabling professors to optimize their teaching methods.

Ongoing Collaborations and Future Prospects

Currently, Neighbuddy’s implementation in university courses involves continuous testing and refinement. Future collaboration with educational institutions, teachers, and researchers will support further validation and improvements. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out for more information.

Overview of the Neighbuddy Project

• - Name: Neighbuddy
• - Concept: An AI learning assistant that supports individual students through interactive dialogue and assignment integration.
• - Development and Operation: Developed by Kyoto City University’s Digital Campus Bureau, Neighbuddy aligns with the university’s philosophy, encouraging innovation in learning through new technologies.
• - Pilot Start Date: Implementation began in the fall of 2024 as part of university courses.

For inquiries about this project, please contact Kyoto City University's Digital Campus Bureau (DCB) Neighbuddy Development Team at [email protected]. Note that inquiries regarding this release are handled by Cross-Tech Management, a group company of the Uryuyama School Corporation.

About Kyoto City University

Kyoto City University stands as one of the largest art universities in Japan, attracting over 22,000 students from diverse backgrounds both domestically and internationally. The university focuses on nurturing the skills essential for societal impact through the arts and emphasizes collaboration between students and external entities to address real-world challenges via art and design. Located in Sakyo, Kyoto, the institution offers a vibrant academic environment fostering creativity.
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