Enhancing STEMcurriculumwith AI
Enhancing STEMcurriculumwith AI
Abstract
new potentials. AI driven tools can provide personalized learning experiences, adapts
to diverse student needs and learning pace, thus promoting better learning
experience and engagement. Moreover, integrating AI into the STEM curriculum will
prepare students for the future workforce, where AI and technology skills is highly
from fostering critical thinking to problem solving skills and data analysis.
However, despite the benefits of integrating AI into the STEM curriculum, it requires
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to overcome some hurdles such as curriculum designing, infrastructure, teachers
Enhancing STEM curriculum with the integration of AI will not only transform the
teaching and learning process but also equips students with essential skills for the
evolving digital economy and ensuring they remain capable in a technology driven
world.
Introduction
According to Mumta (2023), STEM education provides students with the knowledge
and skills that they need to be successful in the twenty-first century. STEM has
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ultimately contributing to economic prosperity and societal problem-solving
(Hebebci & Usta, 2022). Overall, STEM education equips students with the necessary
world. However, for STEM education to truly empower students and prepare them for
the challenges ahead, it must go beyond its core disciplines and embrace
tackle real-world issues and contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future guided
outside the box and develop unique ideas by taking an interdisciplinary approach to
problem-solving. STEM education equips students with the skills to effectively work
This approach prepares them for future challenges where logical reasoning and
problem-solving skills are paramount. It also enhance the cognitive abilities, such as
thinking, coding, and engineering principles from an early age, promoting problem-
Artificial intelligence (AI) has many distinct definitions; a few see it as the
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aspects of society by impacting every aspect of our lives (Nikitha, 2020). It changes
revolutionizing how we live and work. (IABAC, 2023). Artificial intelligence (AI) is
improve engagement, and equip students with the skills necessary for the future
workforce (Goel, & Joyner, 2016). AI has the potential to transform the way we teach
and learn, particularly in STEM education. It has the ability to personalise learning
experiences, provide real-time feedback, and enhance critical thinking skills. This
research will explore the benefits of integrating technology in STEM education and
quality and standard, not widespread in terms of reach and might not ensure the
Thomotuya & Inko-tariah (2016), it was noted that the pace at which a society
development in any society, it follows that the society influences its education
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system and the education system in turn influences the happenings in the country.
these subjects cohesively can be complex (Kolawole & Olusola, 2010). Additionally,
aligning the curriculum with national or state standards while ensuring it remains
This scarcity hinders hands-on learning experiences which are crucial for
irrelevant to their lives (Bull and Slykhuis, 2013). Overcoming these perceptions
ensure that Nigeria cues into the world of technological advancement (Oni, 2012)
and most schools are lacking in this regard. In this technology driven age, everyone
requires ICT competence to succeed (Oni, 2012) and this can only be achieved if
towards the education sector is another challenge. Most government owned schools
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study STEM subjects, even when these scholarships and programs are available,
most students are not informed or aware of its existence or what they can do to get
Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the STEM curriculum offers several
benefits that will enrich the educational experience for students and prepare them
critical thinking, and arm students with essential skills for the 21st century. Some of
tailor instruction that suits such students. Adaptive learning platforms like
and adequately supported (Xu & Ouyang, 2022). Personalized learning helps in
catering to diverse student needs and paces, ensuring that no student is left
behind.
creating more dynamic and interactive lesson plans. This allows teachers to
focus more on instruction and less on grading and paperwork. AI systems can
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effectively. AI can provide teachers with data-driven insights into student
has appeared to be a formidable force to all sectors, and its ability is transforming
many parts of our everyday lives. The educational transformation is one sector in
implications (Kusmawan, 2023, Williamson & Eynon, 2020). The educational system
students and nature of learning. AI plays a critical changer in learning areas because
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of its analytic capabilities, which it employs to undertake comprehensive learning
individual student needs. These systems can simulate the role of a personal teacher
Corbett, 2006). AI can also streamline the grading process, saving teachers valuable
time and providing students with instant feedback. Automated grading systems can
evaluate multiple-choice tests, essays, and even complex problems. These systems
use machine learning algorithms to assess the quality of student work and provide
constructive feedback. For example, platforms like Turnitin and Gradescope use AI
data such as attendance, grades, and participation, AI systems can predict which
students might need additional support and alert instructors to intervene early
(Sclater et al., 2016). Also, AI-powered tools have significant potential in special
education, offering tailored support to students with varied learning needs. Speech
recognition and natural language processing technologies can assist students with
specific needs of each student, making education more inclusive (Holmes et al.,
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2019).
programs based on their current skills and areas for improvement. These platforms
relevant courses to teachers, helping them stay updated with the latest teaching
strategies and technologies (Luckin et al., 2016). While AI-powered teaching and
learning tools offer numerous benefits, they also present ethical considerations and
challenges that need to be addressed. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias,
and the digital divide are critical concerns. Ensuring that AI systems are transparent,
fair, and accessible to all students is essential for their ethical implementation.
may adjust a variety of changing factors, including the level of difficulty, the
availability of resources, and the introduction of new coursework. Students are not
just provided with a general assessment of the quality of their work. They should be
provided with specific suggestions regarding how they might want to think and do
based on STEM education guidelines. The use of artificial intelligence in STEM fields
are now giving rooms for learning advancement (Taylor et al., 2021; Yang, 2022). The
STEM education aims to help students meet their real potential, they can think and
do based on the real life situations. Necessary learning skills should be engaged to
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motivate about excitement with reliable information. It is used to customize
instruction for each individual learner, but higher-ordered thinking are required by
students. AI needs to introduce into STEM curriculum due to the fact that
challenges. The complexities of AI, coupled with existing educational structures and
must sail across. Some of these challenges are discussed in detail, highlighting the
which makes it difficult for educators and curriculum developers to keep up.
has advance beyond, rendering the entire or part of the newly developed
which many underfunded schools or those in the rural areas lack (Kearney &
Treagust, 2019).
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Instructional Challenges: To effectively integrate AI into the STEM curriculum
requires teachers who are experienced in both the theoretical and practical
aspects of AI. However, many of our teachers lacks the necessary training
and expertise in AI. There is need to train more teachers to ensure effective
delivery of AI related contents (Huang & Rust, 2018). Also, the traditional
ethical concerns, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the societal
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integrate AI into the STEM curriculum requires a good administrative policy
Conclusion
power of AI, we can create a more engaging and effective learning environment for
accountability.
By addressing concerns about privacy, bias, and data security, we can ensure
that AI is used ethically and responsibly in education. Teachers play a dynamic role
equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively use AI tools and
Recommendations
To address the stated challenges and to successfully integrate AI into the STEM
support AI integration.
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Teachers should be encourage on continuous professional development to
applications in education.
should be establish.
Financial aids should be provided for schools and student in the rural areas
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