Educational Technology

How Does an Adaptive Dialog Based on Natural Language Processing Impact Students from Distinct Language Backgrounds?

This study takes advantage of advances in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to build an idea detection model that can identify ideas grounded in students’ linguistic experiences. We designed adaptive, interactive dialogs for four explanation items using the NLP idea detection model and investigated whether they similarly support students from distinct language backgrounds. The curriculum, assessments, and scoring rubrics were informed by the Knowledge Integration (KI) pedagogy.

Author/Presenter

Holtman, M., Gerard, L., Li, W., Linn, M.C., Steimel, K., & Riordan, B. 

Year
2023
Short Description

This study takes advantage of advances in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to build an idea detection model that can identify ideas grounded in students’ linguistic experiences.

Impact of an Adaptive Dialog that Uses Natural Language Processing to Detect Students’ Ideas and Guide Knowledge Integration

Author/Presenter

Gerard, L., Holtman, M., Riordan, B., & Linn, M. C.

Year
2025
Short Description

This study leverages natural language processing (NLP) to deepen our understanding of how students integrate their ideas about genetic inheritance while engaging in an adaptive dialog. 

Impact of an Adaptive Dialog that Uses Natural Language Processing to Detect Students’ Ideas and Guide Knowledge Integration

Author/Presenter

Gerard, L., Holtman, M., Riordan, B., & Linn, M. C.

Year
2025
Short Description

This study leverages natural language processing (NLP) to deepen our understanding of how students integrate their ideas about genetic inheritance while engaging in an adaptive dialog. 

Using Artificial Intelligence Teaching Assistants to Guide Students in Solar Energy Engineering Design

Engineering projects, such as designing a solar farm that converts solar radiation shined on the Earth into electricity, engage students in addressing real-world challenges by learning and applying geoscience knowledge. To improve their designs, students benefit from frequent and informative feedback as they iterate. However, teacher attention may be limited or inadequate, both during COVID-19 and beyond. We present Aladdin, a web-based computer-aided design (CAD) platform for engineering design with a built-in artificial intelligence teaching assistant (AITA).

Author/Presenter

Shannon Sung

Xiaotong Ding

Rundong Jiang

Elena Sereiviene

Dylan Bulseco

Charles Xie

Year
2024
Short Description

Engineering projects, such as designing a solar farm that converts solar radiation shined on the Earth into electricity, engage students in addressing real-world challenges by learning and applying geoscience knowledge. To improve their designs, students benefit from frequent and informative feedback as they iterate. However, teacher attention may be limited or inadequate, both during COVID-19 and beyond. We present Aladdin, a web-based computer-aided design (CAD) platform for engineering design with a built-in artificial intelligence teaching assistant (AITA). We also present two curriculum units (Solar Energy Science and Solar Farm Design), where students explore the Sun-Earth relationship and optimize the energy output and yearly profit of a solar farm with the help of the AITA.

Using Artificial Intelligence Teaching Assistants to Guide Students in Solar Energy Engineering Design

Engineering projects, such as designing a solar farm that converts solar radiation shined on the Earth into electricity, engage students in addressing real-world challenges by learning and applying geoscience knowledge. To improve their designs, students benefit from frequent and informative feedback as they iterate. However, teacher attention may be limited or inadequate, both during COVID-19 and beyond. We present Aladdin, a web-based computer-aided design (CAD) platform for engineering design with a built-in artificial intelligence teaching assistant (AITA).

Author/Presenter

Shannon Sung

Xiaotong Ding

Rundong Jiang

Elena Sereiviene

Dylan Bulseco

Charles Xie

Year
2024
Short Description

Engineering projects, such as designing a solar farm that converts solar radiation shined on the Earth into electricity, engage students in addressing real-world challenges by learning and applying geoscience knowledge. To improve their designs, students benefit from frequent and informative feedback as they iterate. However, teacher attention may be limited or inadequate, both during COVID-19 and beyond. We present Aladdin, a web-based computer-aided design (CAD) platform for engineering design with a built-in artificial intelligence teaching assistant (AITA). We also present two curriculum units (Solar Energy Science and Solar Farm Design), where students explore the Sun-Earth relationship and optimize the energy output and yearly profit of a solar farm with the help of the AITA.

StoryMaker

StoryMaker is a powerful learning platform developed by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs to build the next generation of media creators through media-making projects. These lesson plans and activities provide a strong foundation of storytelling and journalism skills to help students gain confidence, find their voice, and discover their place in the world.

Author/Presenter

Leah Clapman

Year
2023
Short Description

StoryMaker is a powerful learning platform developed by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs to build the next generation of media creators through media-making projects. These lesson plans and activities provide a strong foundation of storytelling and journalism skills to help students gain confidence, find their voice, and discover their place in the world.

Wake: Tales from the Aqualab

In this free life sciences learning game, middle school students can play as a young scientist faced with scientific challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems. Wake: Tales from the Aqualab addresses the NGSS practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation in the context of food webs, environmental stressors, and ecological restoration. Wake is compatible with Chromebook, PC or Mac with Internet access and available in English and Spanish.

Author/Presenter

Ryan Baker

David Gagnon

Shari Metcalf

Year
2023
Short Description

In this free life sciences learning game, middle school students can play as a young scientist faced with scientific challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems. Wake: Tales from the Aqualab addresses the NGSS practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation in the context of food webs, environmental stressors, and ecological restoration. Wake is compatible with Chromebook, PC or Mac with Internet access and available in English and Spanish.

Wake: Tales from the Aqualab

In this free life sciences learning game, middle school students can play as a young scientist faced with scientific challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems. Wake: Tales from the Aqualab addresses the NGSS practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation in the context of food webs, environmental stressors, and ecological restoration. Wake is compatible with Chromebook, PC or Mac with Internet access and available in English and Spanish.

Author/Presenter

Ryan Baker

David Gagnon

Shari Metcalf

Year
2023
Short Description

In this free life sciences learning game, middle school students can play as a young scientist faced with scientific challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems. Wake: Tales from the Aqualab addresses the NGSS practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation in the context of food webs, environmental stressors, and ecological restoration. Wake is compatible with Chromebook, PC or Mac with Internet access and available in English and Spanish.

Wake: Tales from the Aqualab

In this free life sciences learning game, middle school students can play as a young scientist faced with scientific challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems. Wake: Tales from the Aqualab addresses the NGSS practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation in the context of food webs, environmental stressors, and ecological restoration. Wake is compatible with Chromebook, PC or Mac with Internet access and available in English and Spanish.

Author/Presenter

Ryan Baker

David Gagnon

Shari Metcalf

Year
2023
Short Description

In this free life sciences learning game, middle school students can play as a young scientist faced with scientific challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems. Wake: Tales from the Aqualab addresses the NGSS practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation in the context of food webs, environmental stressors, and ecological restoration. Wake is compatible with Chromebook, PC or Mac with Internet access and available in English and Spanish.

Spiral Notebook App

The Spiral Notebook app is a digital portfolio tool that enables teachers to efficiently capture multiple representations of classroom practice via documents, images, and videos, and organize, share, and discuss evidence of student thinking reflected in these multimedia artifacts.

Author/Presenter

Jose-Felipe Martinez-Fernandez

Year
2024
Short Description

The Spiral Notebook app is a digital portfolio tool that enables teachers to efficiently capture multiple representations of classroom practice via documents, images, and videos, and organize, share, and discuss evidence of student thinking reflected in these multimedia artifacts.