The Engagement-Scaffolding Nexus: A Systematic Review of How Student Engagement and Teacher Scaffolding Mediate AI’s Impact on Academic Achievement

The impact of AI on teaching and learning approaches in higher education has been dramatic, but its effect on student academic success is a topic of debate. The present literature review provides an in-depth analysis of how student engagement and instructor scaffolding mediate and regulate the impact of AI use on academic success. Empirical studies on the impact of AI on academic performance published between 2019 and 2025 were found, screened, and summarized following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The results indicate that the use of AI enhances students’ academic performance through personalization, adaptive feedback, and increased efficiency. The positive effect of AI use on student achievement is mediated by students’ cognitive, behavioural, and motivational engagement, and instructor scaffolding. The findings reveal that student involvement mediates the relationship between AI utilization and academic performance and teacher scaffolding positively moderates the relationship. The present study, informed by these findings, proposes the Engagement-Scaffolding Nexus to specify how AI contributes to academic achievement. The findings imply that AI should assist students’ learning and cognition instead of totally substituting their own educational endeavours. Therefore, the pivotal role of educators in an AI-augmented learning environment and the prudent incorporation of AI technology in higher education as an adjunct to pedagogical practices should be considered