This project supports GenAI in middle school science classrooms
The University of Georgia has received a five-year, $10 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to establish a research and development center to provide national leadership on best practices for the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in schools. We have strengthened the ability of Junior high school science classroom.
In collaboration with Vanderbilt University, Educational Testing Service, and Albany State University, the National Center for Generative AI to Improve STEM+C Education (GENIUS Center) advances science teaching and learning through the development of GenAI learning agents. Improve your scientific abilities. We will focus on STEM and demonstrate how to use GenAI tools responsibly.
A research team at the GENIUS Center, led by UGA Mary Francis College of Early Education Associate Professor Xiaoming Zai, conducted a research team in both urban and rural middle schools in five states to assess the current use of AI in the classroom. We plan to conduct an investigation. Decide what features to include in your GenAI learning agent. The findings will inform the development of a tool called GenAgent, culminating in a pilot test of GenAgent in middle school science classrooms.
Zai, who is also director of the AI4STEM Education Center, said middle school is an important time for students to develop career interests and an opportunity to engage students with novel technologies.
“I think that today’s middle school students, when they graduate from university, will be working in an environment where AI is everywhere,” Zhai said. “So they have to learn how to deal with AI and how to accept it in their lives.”
GenAgent uses voice, text, and visual input to provide instant feedback and support to students and teachers. It is a tool that can be used in a variety of situations, such as teachers creating learning scenarios and students learning how to analyze scientific data.
“We want students and teachers to leverage AI as a kind of accompaniment in the classroom environment. This will really help kids develop their science abilities for future careers. ” said Zhai.
In addition to Zai, UGA faculty members involved in the project include Yizhu Gao, Lehong Shi, and Ehsan Latif from the College of Education. Tianming Liu and Ninghao Liu from the School of Computing; and Xianqiao Wang from the College of Engineering.
“We are excited to serve as the lead hub for this center,” said Dennis Spangler, dean of the Mary Francis College of Early Education. “AI has the potential to personalize learning and assessment, provide actionable feedback to teachers, help students generate models, and more. This is a critical time to consider how we can support students and how to safely engage students in AI.”
