How are you using Kyron in your courses?
I oversee four medical coding courses at DeVry University, including introductory coding courses, intermediate coding, and certification exam preparation. We currently have two Kyron lessons built into each course.
Medical coding requires students to work through highly detailed case-based scenarios where even a small mistake can have major consequences.
The Kyron lessons are designed around scenario-based learning activities that mirror the kinds of real-world coding challenges students will encounter in their careers. We focus on helping students work through complex coding cases, identify critical details, and build confidence applying what they are learning in realistic situations.
What challenges were you looking to solve for students?
Our students are primarily adult learners balancing work, family responsibilities, and school. Because our courses are fully online, students need to be highly self-directed, which can sometimes create challenges when they feel stuck and don’t know where to turn for help.
I was interested in Kyron because it gave us another way to support students outside of traditional course materials. Not every student wants to attend live sessions or immediately reach out to an instructor, so I saw an opportunity to create another option that could help meet students where they are.
What has been the benefit of using Kyron for online learners?
One of the biggest advantages is that faculty simply are not available 24/7, but students are often studying at all hours of the day and night.
I intentionally designed Kyron lessons around the biggest pain points students experience in medical coding. What it allows is a mechanism for students to ask questions, work through challenges, and receive guidance even when I am not available.
It really feels like teaching by proxy. Students have another opportunity to engage with the material and continue learning in moments where they otherwise may have felt stuck.
How have students responded to Kyron?
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
When we first piloted Kyron, students immediately shared that they wanted to see more of it in their courses. Across the board, students have told us the experience is incredibly helpful because it gives them a safe space to ask questions and receive immediate support when they need it.
A lot of students do not always feel comfortable speaking up or asking questions directly. Kyron creates an environment where students can work through confusion without feeling embarrassed or judged.
Has Kyron had an impact on student outcomes?
We have seen some very encouraging early data.
For students who complete Kyron lessons fully, we found their grades are averaging roughly 10 percentage points higher compared to students who do not complete the lessons.
That has been one of the most exciting indicators for us. It reinforces that when students actively engage with guided learning experiences, it can have a measurable impact on performance.
How does Kyron support your teaching approach?
What I appreciate most is that Kyron gives students guided support while still keeping faculty in control of the learning experience.
As instructors, we care deeply about helping students succeed. When students are struggling and I’m not immediately available, there is always a little guilt knowing I cannot help them at that moment.
Kyron helps alleviate some of that because students still have access to support. It becomes another tool in our toolbox that helps both students and instructors feel more supported throughout the learning process.
Why is AI-powered instruction important for student learning?
Students are already using AI tools, but they are often turning to the internet or tools like ChatGPT without knowing whether they are asking the right questions or receiving reliable information.
What I like about Kyron is that it allows students to engage with AI in a more responsible and guided way.
Rather than searching for quick answers on their own, students are working within educator-designed experiences that guide them through questions, help them think critically, and keep them focused on the right learning process.
What advice would you give to faculty considering Kyron?
I would absolutely recommend it!
The biggest opportunity is identifying where students struggle most and intentionally designing learning experiences around those pain points. I approached every lesson by asking myself: if someone with zero experience were sitting next to me, how would I explain this without missing a step? The more thoughtful you are in building those experiences, the more value students are going to get from it.