International Journal of Learning and Teaching, Vol. 10, No.

4, 2024

ChatGPT for STEM Education: A Working

Framework
Khaula Zeeshan*, Timo Hämäläinen, and Pekka Neittaanmäki
Department of Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Email: [email protected] (K.Z.); timo.t. [email protected] (T.H.); [email protected] (P.N.)
*Corresponding author

Abstract—This paper sheds light on the possible use of most

recent technology, ChatGPT in STEM (Science, Technology, A. What Is Generative AI (Gen AI)?
Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Here we used the Generative AI can be defined as a technology that (i)
ChatGPT tool and explored how it can help teachers in leverages deep learning models to (ii) generate human-
STEM class. Our work first presented a literature work like content (e.g., images, words) in response to (iii)
related to Chat GPT in terms of its use in education, complex and varied prompts (e.g., languages, instructions,
explained generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) and
questions).
ChatGPT. ChatGPT tool is used to generate responses to
prompts given. We ask ChatGPT that how it can be used in The last decade has shown enormous progress towards
class for teaching science, mathematics, and coding. After AI development and release of AI tools such as ChatGPT,
detailed analysis of the responses by ChatGPT we presented GitHub Copilot, and DALL-E which have attracted
a theoretical framework for guiding the use of ChatGPT in widespread attention, optimism, and skepticism [1].
STEM educational settings. Next, we presented limitations These technologies are all examples of “generative AI”, a
of using ChatGPT in educational context and highlighted class of machine learning technologies that can generate
the bottlenecks and ethical issues in using technologies like new content—such as text, images, music, video, poems,
ChatGPT. Finally, we presented our future research interesting phrases, or idea creation by analyzing patterns
directions and concluded that ChatGPT has a great
in existing data. Generative AI uses large language
potential in STEM education and can be used as an effective
tool for STEM teachers. We also emphasized on the models to generate content. In 2017, the Transformer
concerning ethical issues related to the technology. network made progress in generative models, leading to
the first Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT),
Keywords—ChatGPT, STEM education, skill development, known as GPT-1 in 2018, this progress was followed in
artificial intelligence, science education, active learning 2019 by GPT-2 which demonstrated the ability to
generalize many different tasks as a Foundation model. In
2021, the release of DALL-E, a transformer-based pixel
I. INTRODUCTION generative model, marked the emergence of practical
high-quality artificial intelligence art from natural
New trends and technologies are opening new doors
language prompts. GPT-4 was released in March 2023 [2].
for educational reforms and support. On the other hand,
Our conceptual paper has the following objectives: (1)
the newfangled technologies offer big challenges too both
to propose a theoretical framework for guiding the use of
for the teachers and students. A neutral take on the new
ChatGPT in STEM education (or “educative AI”, which
technology adaptation should be to see both sides of the
refers to the use of AI in educational settings to enhance
technology use to anticipate its pros and cons realistically.
teaching and learning outcomes) and (2) to illustrate
The last decade has shown a tremendous progress in the
ChatGPT’s potential benefits and challenges for use in
technology development and its adaptation in general and
the field of education. This study also provides
specifically in the field of education. Digital
recommendations for future research, policy, and practice
transformation of education has seen new heights during
in educative AI [3].
and post covid 19 eras.
Online learning tools, mobiles, digital learning B. What Is ChatGPT?
applications, IoT, and AI tools are already in daily Open AI developed a natural language processing
practice in educational systems. The most recent model to generate human conversation like texts called
technology in market for education is AI chatbot ChatGPT, stands for Chat Generative Pre-Trained
ChatGPT. AI in general is making its place in every field Transformer, launched on 30 November 2022. ChatGPT
of life and has become an important part of daily life in is versatile in its functionality as compared to a normal
many ways from searching suitable routs on google maps chatbot. From writing poetry and essays, composing
to watching movies on Netflix. music, teleplays, generating business ideas, translating,
and explaining texts to writing and debugging the
Manuscript received December 31, 2023; revised February 18, 2024; computer programs ChatGPT is proving to be a master of
accepted April 9, 2024; published August 29, 2024. all trades [4, 5].

doi: 10.18178/ijlt.10.4.544-548 544

 International Journal of Learning and Teaching, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2024

Ability to understand the context, generating coherent • Virtual Science Assistant: Treat ChatGPT as a
responses and adapting its language style based on the virtual science assistant. Students can interact
input it receives are some of the key features of Chat GPT. with it to get explanations, summaries, or
Therefore, Chat GPT can be used for answering questions, elaborations on science concepts. This can be
writing content, creating ideas, having conversations, especially useful for students who may need extra
planning discussions and many more. help or clarification.
Chat GPT is undoubtedly a versatile AI tool, but it is • Discussion Starter: Use ChatGPT-generated
important for users to keep in mind that its responses are prompts to initiate class discussions. Ask the
based on patterns learned during training and may not model to generate questions or statements related
always be contextually accurate and perfect. Therefore, to the current science topic, and then discuss the
for users, it’s important to verify information gathered responses as a class. This can encourage critical
from Chat GPT. It is important for STEM (Science, thinking and diverse perspectives.
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) educators to • Writing Prompts: Ask ChatGPT to generate
understand the implications of this technology and to writing prompts related to science topics.
study how to adapt this technology in STEM ecosystem. Students can use these prompts for essays,
This would ensure that the next generation of STEM research papers, or creative writing exercises. It
professionals can take optimal advantages as offered by encourages students to think deeply about the
generative AI while minimizing any negative subject matter.
consequences. • Interactive Learning: Integrate ChatGPT into
interactive learning activities. For example, create
II. CHATGPT FOR STEM EDUCATION a scenario where students have to ask the model
questions to solve a science-related problem or
A. How Can a Science Teacher Use ChatGPT? simulate a scientific inquiry.
A science teacher can use ChatGPT in many ways to • Homework Assistance: Students can use
support, enhance and effectively deliver the learning ChatGPT as a resource for homework help. They
tasks to the learners. From the last decade we have can ask for explanations, examples, or additional
observed that artificial intelligence is playing a vital role resources related to the topics covered in class.
in teaching and learning [6, 7]. Following are some • Concept Reinforcement: After teaching a
suggestions for the science teachers that how they can use concept, the students would be able to summarize
Chat GPT to support their teaching process. what they’ve learnt by interacting with ChatGPT?
Teachers can brainstorm ideas, can answer student`s This can help reinforce the understanding of the
questions, can create interactive learning environment material and identify any misconceptions.
and interactive lessons where students are engaged in a • Science Project Ideas: Ask ChatGPT for creative
conversation with ChatGPT to reinforce concepts. For and innovative science project ideas. This can
instance, a teacher can set up a scenario where students inspire students and provide a starting point for
must solve a scientific problem by asking ChatGPT for them to explore their scientific interests further.
hints and guidance. ChatGPT can be used as a personal • Language Skill Development: Incorporate
teacher assistant to look for references and data for the ChatGPT to help students develop their language
topics and can provide research material to investigate for skills: They can ask the model to explain
the preparation of teaching materials. ChatGPT can be scientific concepts in their own words, improving
used by teachers for idea creation as how to plan a class both their understanding of the material and their
lesson. ability to communicate effectively.
Teachers can use ChatGPT to stimulate debates or • Ethical Discussions: Utilize ChatGPT to explore
discussions in the classroom. Students can ask ChatGPT ethical considerations in science. Generate
for arguments related to a scientific topic and then use questions or scenarios related to the ethical
this information in a structured debate. implications of scientific advancements and
At this point of discussion, we are interested to know engage students in thoughtful discussions.
that what Chat GPT itself says about its usage in STEM It’s important to note that while ChatGPT can be a
classes both by students and teachers. So, we gave a valuable tool, it’s not a replacement for the teacher’s
prompt to Chat GPT as follows: expertise. Teachers should guide the use of ChatGPT,
Response of Chat GPT was as follows: ensuring that it complements their teaching methods and
A science teacher can integrate ChatGPT into the enhances the learning experience for students.
classroom in various ways to enhance science teaching Additionally, it’s crucial to critically evaluate the
and engage students. Here are some ideas: information generated by ChatGPT, as it may not always
• Answering Questions: Use ChatGPT to quickly be entirely accurate or up to date.
answer students’ questions related to science
topics. This can be particularly helpful for B. How Can a Math’s Teacher Use ChatGPT in Class?
clarifying doubts, providing additional Response of Chat GPT was as follows:
information, or exploring related concepts beyond While ChatGPT is primarily a text-based model and
the textbook. may not have specific knowledge about being a “math

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teacher”, you can still integrate it into your science or the information provided by ChatGPT is not only aligned
math class in various ways. Here are some ideas on how a with the curriculum but also is accurately delivered and
math teacher can use ChatGPT in the classroom: applied in the said educational context.
• Answering Math Questions: Use ChatGPT to
C. How ChatGPT Can Help in Teaching Coding to Kids?
answer students’ math questions. It can help
provide additional explanations, step-by-step Response of Chat GPT was as follows:
solutions, or alternative approaches to solving ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in teaching coding to
problems. kids in various ways. Here are some ways you can
• Problem-Solving Practice: Create math leverage ChatGPT to enhance the coding learning
problems or equations and ask students to solve experience:
them. Students can then use ChatGPT to check • Coding Assistance: Kids can use ChatGPT to
their answers, get hints, or explore different seek help with coding problems. They can ask
methods of solving the problems. questions about syntax, logic errors, or general
• Math Concepts Explained: Have ChatGPT programming concepts. ChatGPT can provide
explain specific math concepts. This can be explanations and solutions, acting as a virtual
especially useful for students who may need extra coding tutor [8].
support or for introducing advanced topics • Code Writing Assistance: Encourage kids to
beyond the curriculum. write code snippets or even full programs with
• Math Puzzles and Challenges: Generate math ChatGPT’s assistance. The model can help them
puzzles or challenges using ChatGPT and use with code structure, suggest improvements, and
them as engaging activities in the classroom. provide examples to illustrate coding principles.
Students can work individually or in groups to • Concept Explanation: Use ChatGPT to explain
solve these puzzles, promoting critical thinking coding concepts in a kid-friendly manner. It can
and problem-solving skills. break down complex ideas into simpler terms,
• Interactive Quizzes: Use ChatGPT to create making it easier for children to understand
interactive quizzes where students can ask fundamental programming concepts.
questions related to the quiz content. This can be • Creative Coding Ideas: Ask ChatGPT for
a fun and interactive way for students to review creative coding project ideas that align with the
and reinforce their understanding of math kids’ interests. This can inspire them to work on
concepts. projects that are not only educational but also
• Math Project Ideas: Ask ChatGPT for creative personally engaging and enjoyable.
math project ideas. Students can use these ideas • Debugging Practice: Kids can use ChatGPT to
as a starting point for independent or group practice debugging. They can share their code
projects, fostering creativity and exploration in with the model, describe the issue they are facing,
mathematics. and receive suggestions on how to identify and
• Historical Math Context: Explore the historical fix bugs.
context of mathematical concepts. Ask ChatGPT • Coding Challenges: Generate coding challenges
to provide information on the historical or puzzles using ChatGPT. Kids can then attempt
development of specific mathematical ideas, to solve these challenges, promoting problem-
helping students understand the evolution of solving skills and critical thinking in a fun and
mathematical thought. interactive way.
• Math Vocabulary and Definitions: Use • Learning Resources: Ask ChatGPT to
ChatGPT to reinforce math vocabulary and recommend age-appropriate coding resources,
provide clear definitions of mathematical terms. tutorials, or games. This can supplement the
This can be particularly helpful for students who formal learning process and expose kids to a
may struggle with the language of mathematics. variety of coding tools and languages.
• Coding and Mathematics Integration: If • Storytelling with Code: Kids can use ChatGPT
applicable, explore the intersection of to explore coding in a creative context. Encourage
mathematics and coding. Ask ChatGPT to them to tell stories using code, where they create
provide coding examples related to mathematical interactive narratives or games by applying
concepts, promoting interdisciplinary learning. coding concepts they’ve learned.
• Real-World Applications: Discuss real-world • Coding Language Exploration: If your
applications of mathematical concepts with the curriculum includes multiple coding languages,
help of ChatGPT. This can make math more kids can use ChatGPT to explore the differences
relevant and interesting to students by showing between them. They can ask for comparisons,
how it is used in various fields. advantages, and use cases for various
We should always remember to guide students on how programming languages.
to use ChatGPT effectively and to emphasize that it’s a • Coding History Exploration: ChatGPT can
supplementary tool rather than a replacement for the provide information about the history and
teacher’s guidance. Additionally, it is to be ensured that evolution of coding languages. This historical

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context can make coding more interesting and 2) Lesson explanation and reinforcement
help kids appreciate the development of the tools • ChatGPT integration into learning platforms or
they are using. websites to provide instant explanations and
It’s important to note that while ChatGPT as an AI clarification of STEM concepts.
chat bot [8] can offer valuable assistance, hands-on • Students can ask real time questions during or
coding practice, real-world projects, and interactive after lessons, receiving immediate responses to
activities should remain central to the learning experience. get better understanding of a certain topic.
Additionally, ensure that the coding concepts introduced 3) Experimentations and simulations
align with the age and skill level of the students. Always • Students can use virtual lab assistance to design
encourage kids to think creatively, employ problem- experiments or simulations, offering guidance and
solving techniques independently, and enjoy the explanations throughout the process.
process of learning to code. ChatGPT has a greater • ChatGPT can be used for interactive
capability to provide personalized and efficient learning demonstrations to trigger scientific processes and
experiences [9]. visualize the concepts that are otherwise hard to
The above prompt questions and the responses of the grasp.
ChatGPT, explain a vast application of Chat GPT in 4) Project assistance and idea creation
STEM education. STEM education focusses on • Equip students in brainstorming and creating
phenomenon or project-based learning and development ideas for STEM projects or assignments.
of critical thinking [10]. Following features are the main • Assist students and help them in rethinking and
ingredients of STEM education: interacting in projects.
Asking questions, thinking, understanding problem, 5) Collaborative and interactive learning
creating ideas, interaction, communication, collaboration,
• ChatGPT facilitates group discussions by
taking challenges and solving problems, language
providing explanations, resources, and guidance
exploration, looking for authentic resources, debugging
during collaborative projects and produces an
and recreating solutions, validating, testing and
interactive learning environment.
researching [11].
6) Problem solving techniques
Research conducted [3] in pharmacy education
• A step-by-step guidance to the problem and
concluded that ChatGPT has a great potential of
finding its solution by breaking problem into
enhancing process driven phenomenon or project-based
pieces. Problem solving skill is an important part
learning [7]. As, we can clearly see from the above Chat
of STEM education [11].
GPT responses that it justifies its usage in STEM
7) Personalized teaching
education.
• ChatGPT can offer personalized tutoring sessions
D. Framework for Using ChatGPT in STEM Education where students can ask specific questions or can
With an immense progress in technology and with receive additional support in understanding
growing number of tools and applications which can challenging topics. Personalized learning is an
assist teachers and students digitally, there is a dire need important part of STEM teaching as not all
of a working framework, which adheres to the needs and students are at the same pace and in that case
provides a clear instruction on the application of AI personalized tutoring helps in understanding
assisted tools in education. In our case here we propose a complex STEM concepts.
working framework for using ChatGPT in STEM 8) Adaptive Learning Methods
education. • Adaptive learning Paths can be tailored based on
The application of AI technologies in STEM education students’ individual strengths and weaknesses by
is a burgeoning trend, capable of providing personalized providing targeted explanations and resources. In
and efficient learning experience with the challenge of this way a student gets flexible and adaptive
integrating AI techniques in the complex STEM learning assistance according to his/her needs.
educational system. 9) Assessments and feedback
1) Technology knowhow and ethical awareness • Continuous assessments and feedback are
A very first step in implementing ChatGPT in necessary for improved learning. ChatGPT help
enhancement of STEM education is to get awareness of students prepare for exams by offering practice
the technology and after training teachers, the students questions, explanations, and clarifications.
should be provided with the complete awareness of the • Provides students with detailed feedback so that
technology. Technology awareness includes: they can learn from it and improve their
• What is this technology? shortcomings in future.
• How technology works? • Also helps teacher to generate personalized
• What are the ethical issues? feedback for students from their tasks and write
• What are the benefits and limitations of this assessments on individual student performances.
technology? 10) Accuracy, authenticity, and safety
• To what extent this technology can be used in • Ensures that the information generated from the
STEM education scenario? ChatGPT, must be reliable. Students should check

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the authenticity of the information from other AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

sources as well. In the learning process students
KZ conducted the research, analyzed the data, and
must take safety, accuracy, and authenticity into
wrote the paper; TH and PN supervised the work and
consideration.
gave feedback; all authors had approved the final version.
11) Ethics and privacy
• Teachers and students must maintain privacy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
standards and ethical considerations when
interacting with students, especially considering The author has used ChatGPT, while preparing this
the age group and educational setting. research paper. The author has given prompts to
ChatGPT and ChatGPT has given responses which are
III. LIMITATIONS added as it is in this research paper. The author is
thankful to OpenAI.
Integration of AI tools in STEM education is a new
trend in educational research [7]. Educational institutions
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The authors declare that they have no known medium, provided that the article is properly cited, the use is non-
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