Publication

“I think I would rather decide what to do”: Students’ perception of control in an AI-infused classroom

Martina Vincoli, Niklas Scholz, Tomohiro Nagashima

ECTEL2026 · 2026

@inproceedings{vincoli2026i,
  title     = {“I think I would rather decide what to do”: Students’ perception of control in an AI-infused classroom},
  author    = {Martina Vincoli and Niklas Scholz and Tomohiro Nagashima},
  booktitle = {ECTEL2026},
  year      = {2026},
}

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly been integrated into school classrooms to optimize human learning. However, prior studies do not yet offer a complete understanding of students’ experiences and preferences for learning with AI in the classroom, specifically regarding the desired degree of control as AI systems begin to automate important decision-making opportunities. We conducted a qualitative speed-dating study with 16 secondary-school students to investigate their preferences for control in an AI-augmented classroom. Our findings reveal that students’ desire for control is not uniform; rather, it fluctuates based on the specific type of decision being made. Our work demonstrates the importance of understanding students’ sense of control as a multi-dimensional concept and its dynamic nature involving how students view their teacher and AI, rather than a single-dimensional, static concept. Based on our findings, we provide design recommendations for future classroom AI systems.