Leveraging AI to Mitigate Learning Poverty in the Digital Era: The Impacts of Integrated AI Educational Tools on Students’ Literacy Skills

Technological innovation plays a crucial role in improving educational quality worldwide. In Ethiopia, however, literacy skills face significant obstacles, worsening the problem of learning poverty. This study aimed to analyze the effects of integrated AI educational tools on students’ literacy development. It also explored how learners perceived the use of these tools in reading and writing instruction. A quasi-experimental single-group time series design, combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches, was used. A total of 46 students from the Information Technology department at Injibara University were selected through a comprehensive census sampling method. For a period of three months, participants received reading and writing lessons supported by AI tools (NoRedInk, Rewordifyv2.1.0, and LanguageTool 9.5.0) to assess their impact on literacy skills. Data collection included pre- and post-tests, focus group discussions, and reflective journals. Quantitative data were analyzed with ANOVA, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis using thematic techniques. Results revealed that the integration of AI educational tools significantly enhanced students’ literacy skills, including grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, content organization, and writing style. Students also expressed positive perceptions of using these tools in their reading and writing lessons. Therefore, this study encourages scholars, educators, and learners to adopt integrated AI educational tools to improve literacy development.