United KingdomEducation2026 – ongoing

University of Exeter

Learnwise Socratic tutor for first-year economics

Exeter staff reported that 85% of surveyed AI tutor users rated their experience positively, without a reduction in staff workload

WorkingCompany's own claim

Problem

Individual tutoring was difficult in a large economics module. Staff wanted students to reason through problems when using AI.

Approach

Staff configured Learnwise with approved module materials and guided questioning, then embedded it in the virtual learning environment. Procurement delayed release until week 7. Testing required changes to direct-answer behaviour and mathematical notation handling.

Results

57%of 65 post-implementation survey respondents reported accessing the tutor, according to Exeter staffCompany's own claim[1]

85%of surveyed users rated their experience positively, according to Exeter staffCompany's own claim[1]

Takeaway

Preparing and maintaining the tutor required substantial staff work. The evaluation measured student perceptions rather than causal effects on examination performance.

Sources

Supporting Active Learning: Implementing a Socratic AI Tutor in a First-Year Economics Module
The Economics NetworkOct 2026Research paper or report

Source summaries

[1]The Economics NetworkOct 2026

Exeter staff described their deployed Learnwise tutor and its survey results. They reported limited adoption and no reduction in staff workload.

Full details are in the original sources.

Added 1 Nov 2026 · Updated 1 Nov 2026