Enhancing ChatGPT in POE Inquiry Learning for STEM Education to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

The importance of integrating inquiry-based strategies into STEM activities lies in creating a challenging and engaging teaching environment that promotes active learning among students. This educational setting not only sparks students’ interest in learning but also enhances their critical thinking skills and practical application abilities. Inquiry-based strategies encourage students to learn through independent exploration and problem-solving processes, enabling them to actively participate and learn in activities, thereby cultivating critical thinking. However, to ensure that students effectively achieve these objectives and do not give up or withdraw due to the difficulty and challenge, appropriate guidance and feedback are necessary. The development of ChatGPT-based Inquiry Learning Assistant (InquiryGPT) in this study represents the integration of technology into education. InquiryGPT will provide constraints and dialogue during students’ participation in inquiry-based STEM activities, aiming to prevent students from overly relying on ChatGPT without engaging in critical thinking. This study examined the effectiveness of InquiryGPT based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and investigated the differences in its impact on students compared to traditional ChatGPT. This research will contribute to a better understanding of the influence of new technology-enhanced educational tools on students’ learning processes and provide valuable insights and guidance for future educational technology development.