# A Large-Scale, Open-Domain, Mixed-Interface Dialogue-Based ITS for STEM

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.06616 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.06616/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 6 May 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Deep Discourse Analysis for Generating Personalized Feedback in Intelligent Tutor Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.07785/) (2021)
- [Opportunities and Challenges of LLMs in Education: An NLP Perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.22753/) (2025)
- [A New Era: Intelligent Tutoring Systems Will Transform Online Learning for Millions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.03724/) (2022)
- [ML-Based Teaching Systems: A Conceptual Framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.07681/) (2023)
- [Transferring Domain Knowledge with (X)AI-Based Learning Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.01329/) (2024)
- [Comparative Study of Learning Outcomes for Online Learning Platforms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.07763/) (2021)
- [Raising Student Completion Rates with Adaptive Curriculum and Contextual Bandits](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.14003/) (2022)
- [Question Personalization in an Intelligent Tutoring System](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.14145/) (2022)
- [PAPPL: Personalized AI-Powered Progressive Learning Platform](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.14109/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We present Korbit, a large-scale, open-domain, mixed-interface, dialogue-based intelligent tutoring system (ITS). Korbit uses machine learning, natural language processing and reinforcement learning to provide interactive, personalized learning online. Korbit has been designed to easily scale to thousands of subjects, by automating, standardizing and simplifying the content creation process. Unlike other ITS, a teacher can develop new learning modules for Korbit in a matter of hours. To facilitate learning across a widerange of STEM subjects, Korbit uses a mixed-interface, which includes videos, interactive dialogue-based exercises, question-answering, conceptual diagrams, mathematical exercises and gamification elements. Korbit has been built to scale to millions of students, by utilizing a state-of-the-art cloud-based micro-service architecture. Korbit launched its first course in 2019 on machine learning, and since then over 7,000 students have enrolled. Although Korbit was designed to be open-domain and highly scalable, A/B testing experiments with real-world students demonstrate that both student learning outcomes and student motivation are substantially improved compared to typical online courses.