Effectiveness of Using Voice Assistants in Learning: A Study at the Time of COVID-19

Abstract

The use of advanced learning technologies in a learning management system (LMS) can greatly assist learning processes, especially when used in university environments, as they promote the development of Self-Regulated learning, which increases academic performance and student satisfaction towards personal learning. One of the most innovative resources that an LMS may have is an Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA). We worked with a sample of 109 third-grade students following Health Sciences degrees. The aims were: (1) to verify whether there will be significant differences in student access to the LMS, depending on use versus non-use of an IPA. (2) To verify whether there will be significant differences in student learning outcomes depending on use versus non-use of an IPA. (3) To verify whether there will be significant differences for student satisfaction with teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on use versus non-use of an IPA. (4) To analyze student perceptions of the usefulness of an IPA in the LMS. We found greater functionality in access to the LMS and satisfaction with teaching, especially during the health crisis, in the group of students who had used an IPA. However, both the expansion of available information and the usability of the features embedded in an IPA are still challenging issues.