ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Educ.
Sec. Higher Education
This article is part of the Research TopicEmpowering Educators: Integrating Technology, Equity, and Innovation in Higher EducationView all 4 articles
Impact of AI-assisted micro-learning on student engagement in an online environment in higher education
Provisionally accepted
- Palestine Technical University Kadoorie, Tulkarem, Palestine
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The rapid advancement of technology has revolutionized teaching and learning in educational settings, introducing innovative tools into teacher education programs. Micro-learning integration in the educational process is significantly influenced due to the emergence of generative AI tools. This article investigated the impact of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based microlearning on the learning engagement of college students of a multimedia course in the educational technology department. Investigating engagement is essential as it influences students' motivation, academic performance, and perceptions. However, research on AI-assisted micro-learning remains limited, particularly in the Middle East, highlighting the need for further investigation. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, the research involved 50 students enrolled in an educational technology course. A quasi-experimental design was implemented, supplemented by a phenomenological approach. Data were collected from both an experimental group and a control group, along with online forum discussions and 25 semi-structured interviews with pre-service teachers who engaged in AI-assisted micro-learning. ANCOVA analysis demonstrated AI-assisted micro-learning influence on student engagement and its components. Through inductive and deductive content analysis, four main themes emerged include cognitive engagement, emotional engagement, social engagement, and behavioral engagement, further divided into six subthemes: grabbing attention, personalized learning, reduced frustration, task completion, sharing, and competition. The findings underscore the role of empowering educators through the integration of technology, equity, and innovation in higher education, where AI-assisted microlearning serves as a pedagogical tool to foster inclusive, adaptive, and engaging learning environments. Recommendations include using AI to tailor content to individual learning styles, thereby supporting educators in delivering equitable and innovative educational experiences.
Keywords: AI, AI-based learning, cognitive engagement, engagement, Microlearning
Received: 11 Dec 2025; Accepted: 05 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Salhab and aboushi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Reham Salhab
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