How Gemini is helping students and teachers in the classroom
New research from the UK and Italy shows how Google’s Gemini can support math learning and lesson planning, with AI tutoring performing similarly to human tutors in the UK and improving classroom engagement and teacher wellbeing in Italy.
New studies in the UK and Italy examined how Google’s Gemini supports students and teachers in real classrooms. In the UK, students using AI math tutors achieved learning outcomes comparable to those receiving human tutoring, with step-by-step problem-solving guidance. The research involved over 1,100 students aged 12–15 in a 10-week randomized controlled trial, where AI responses were reviewed in real time by human experts before reaching students.
In Italy, teachers used Gemini to co-design lessons, leading to more group discussions and higher student participation. Educators reported feeling more creative in lesson planning, with traditional lectures dropping by 38% and collaborative learning nearly tripling. Student engagement rose from 77% to 84%, and teachers experienced a 66% reduction in reliance on their own energy to keep classrooms engaged.
The UK trial tested three types of support for incorrect math answers: static hints, human tutoring, and AI tutoring combining Eedi’s platform with Gemini. While AI tutoring improved pedagogical quality by nearly 25% and promoted active thinking in 99% of sessions, students solved fewer total problems per session compared to static hints, averaging 14 versus 19.
The Italian study involved 1,600 teachers across 31 schools in the Salesians of Don Bosco network, with findings showing AI’s effectiveness when educators remain central to classroom dynamics. Lessons co-designed with Gemini saw student-led collaborative learning increase significantly, and teacher wellbeing improved as lesson activity design drove engagement more than doubling from 23.2% to 52.2%.