AI-Powered Personalized Learning and Students’ Metacognitive Awareness: The Role of Learning Engagement
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into higher education to provide personalized learning experiences that respond to students’ individual needs, learning pace, progress, and preferences. In this context, the present study examined the association between AI-powered personalized learning and students’ metacognitive awareness, with learning engagement examined as a mediating variable. The study addressed limited evidence regarding how personalized AI-supported learning environments are associated with students’ awareness and regulation of their own learning and the role of engagement in this relationship. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected from 411 university students enrolled in selected higher education institutions in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included adopted and adapted measures of AI-powered personalized learning and learning engagement, while metacognitive awareness was assessed using the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI). The findings showed significant positive relationships between AI-powered personalized learning and metacognitive awareness, AI-powered personalized learning and learning engagement, and learning engagement and metacognitive awareness. AI-powered personalized learning was a significant statistical predictor of metacognitive awareness, while learning engagement significantly mediated the relationship between AI-powered personalized learning and metacognitive awareness. The findings indicate that personalized AI-supported learning is associated with students’ active involvement in learning and their awareness of their own learning processes. Learning engagement represents an important pathway through which AI-supported personalized learning is connected with metacognitive development. The study contributes to higher education research by integrating AI-powered personalization, learning engagement, and metacognitive awareness within a single framework.