Date
Publisher
arXiv
Project-based learning (PBL) is an instructional method that is very helpful
in nurturing students' creativity, but it requires significant time and energy
from both students and teachers. Large language models (LLMs) have been proven
to assist in creative tasks, yet much controversy exists regarding their role
in fostering creativity. This paper explores the potential of LLMs in PBL
settings, with a special focus on fostering creativity. We began with an
exploratory study involving 12 middle school students and identified five
design considerations for LLM applications in PBL. Building on this, we
developed an LLM-empowered, 48-hour PBL program and conducted an instructional
experiment with 31 middle school students. Our results indicated that LLMs can
enhance every stage of PBL. Additionally, we also discovered ambivalent
perspectives among students and mentors toward LLM usage. Furthermore, we
explored the challenge and design implications of integrating LLMs into PBL and
reflected on the program. By bridging AI advancements into educational
practice, our work aims to inspire further discourse and investigation into
harnessing AI's potential in child-centric educational settings.
Study at a glance
- Question: How can artificial intelligence support student creativity during project-based learning?
- Setting and data: A 48-hour project-based learning program with 12 middle school students in an exploratory study and 31 in an experiment.
- Method: Exploratory study followed by an instructional experiment.
Why it matters
Project-based learning nurtures student creativity but requires significant time and energy from both students and teachers. While large language models can assist creative tasks, much controversy exists regarding their role in fostering creativity.
Key findings
- In a 48-hour program with 31 middle school students, results indicated that large language models can enhance every stage of project-based learning.
- Both students and mentors reported ambivalent perspectives toward using large language models during project-based learning.
- Five key design considerations were identified for applying large language models to project-based learning environments.
Summary drafted with AI from the paper’s abstract and may contain errors. See the full paper for details.
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Study design
