National Center on Generative AI for Uplifting STEM+C Education (GENIUS Center)
The GENIUS Center will integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) with the teaching and learning of science and engineering practices through a GenAI learning agent named GenAgent.
Sponsor
National Center for Education Research
$10,000,000Principal investigator
Xiaoming Zhai
Associate professor, Department of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies EducationCo-principal investigators
Gautam Biswas
Vanderbilt UniversityLei Lui
Educational Testing ServiceDorene Medlin
Albany State UniversityActive since
September 2024
Abstract
The development of a competent science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computing (STEM+C) workforce in the era of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is crucial for the nation’s economic growth, security, and global competitiveness. To achieve this goal, initiatives that combine a robust understanding of core STEM concepts with competence in computational thinking (CT) and AI are needed. With this goal in mind, the National Center on Generative AI for Uplifting STEM+C Education (GENIUS Center) will integrate generative AI with the teaching and learning of science and engineering practices through a GenAI learning agent named GenAgent, which will serve as a mentor, learning buddy, collaborative learning agent, and teacher assistant to promote six key middle school science and engineering practices (SEPs).
The research, which will be conducted in urban and rural middle schools across five states—including Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, and California—will engage a diverse sample of approximately 175 middle school science teachers and their 15,000 students, focusing on inclusivity to represent various racial and ethnic backgrounds, including students with disabilities.
Specifically, during Phase I, we will recruit five teachers and about 250 of their students for each exploratory study. In Phase II, to evaluate the acceptability and usability of GenAgent, we will engage 15 teachers and their 750 students. Additionally, six teachers and their 300 students, randomly selected from the prior usability study, will pilot the refined GenAgent to assess its feasibility. In Phase III, 135 teachers and about 13,500 students will participate in the pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of GenAgent on STEM+C learning.