IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i7p3034-d1370564.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Generative AI for Customizable Learning Experiences

Author

Listed:
  • Ivica Pesovski

    (Software Engineering and Innovation, Brainster Next College, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Ricardo Santos

    (NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1070-312 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Roberto Henriques

    (NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1070-312 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Vladimir Trajkovik

    (Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, “Ss Cyril and Methodius” University, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia)

Abstract

The introduction of accessible generative artificial intelligence opens promising opportunities for the implementation of personalized learning methods in any educational environment. Personalized learning has been conceptualized for a long time, but it has only recently become realistic and truly achievable. In this paper, we propose an affordable and sustainable approach toward personalizing learning materials as part of the complete educational process. We have created a tool within a pre-existing learning management system at a software engineering college that automatically generates learning materials based on the learning outcomes provided by the professor for a particular class. The learning materials were composed in three distinct styles, the initial one being the traditional professor style and the other two variations adopting a pop-culture influence, namely Batman and Wednesday Addams. Each lesson, besides being delivered in three different formats, contained automatically generated multiple-choice questions that students could use to check their progress. This paper contains complete instructions for developing such a tool with the help of large language models using OpenAI’s API and an analysis of the preliminary experiment of its usage performed with the help of 20 college students studying software engineering at a European university. Participation in the study was optional and on voluntary basis. Each student’s tool usage was quantified, and two questionnaires were conducted: one immediately after subject completion and another 6 months later to assess both immediate and long-term effects, perceptions, and preferences. The results indicate that students found the multiple variants of the learning materials really engaging. While predominantly utilizing the traditional variant of the learning materials, they found this approach inspiring, would recommend it to other students, and would like to see it more in classes. The most popular feature were the automatically generated quiz-style tests that they used to assess their understanding. Preliminary evidence suggests that the use of various versions of learning materials leads to an increase in students’ study time, especially for students who have not mastered the topic otherwise. The study’s small sample size of 20 students restricts its ability to generalize its findings, but its results provide useful early insights and lay the groundwork for future research on AI-supported educational strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivica Pesovski & Ricardo Santos & Roberto Henriques & Vladimir Trajkovik, 2024. "Generative AI for Customizable Learning Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-23, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:3034-:d:1370564
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/7/3034/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/7/3034/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jussi S. Jauhiainen & Agustín Garagorry Guerra, 2023. "Generative AI and ChatGPT in School Children’s Education: Evidence from a School Lesson," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hong-Guang Zhao & Xin-Zhu Li & Xin Kang, 2024. "Development of an artificial intelligence curriculum design for children in Taiwan and its impact on learning outcomes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Hilal Uğraş & Mustafa Uğraş & Stamatios Papadakis & Michail Kalogiannakis, 2024. "ChatGPT-Supported Education in Primary Schools: The Potential of ChatGPT for Sustainable Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Carlos Alexandre Gouvea da Silva & Felipe Negrelle Ramos & Rafael Veiga de Moraes & Edson Leonardo dos Santos, 2024. "ChatGPT: Challenges and Benefits in Software Programming for Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-23, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:3034-:d:1370564. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.