Empowering Student Learning Through AI: Building Chatbots for Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills (InnovateX)

The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support various teaching approaches in the classroom. This paper explores its use in facilitating learner-centered methods to enhance student engagement, agency, and future-ready competencies. It outlines the step-by-step process high school students, guided by their teacher and an educational consultant, took to create personalized chatbots or trained assistants to solve real-world problems as part of studying Enduring Issues in a 9th grade World History class in the U.S.A. Students engaged in design thinking, creative problem-solving, and teamwork, all while building their AI literacy skills. Materials used in the lesson are provided as open-source resources. Student perspectives were collected anonymously and are included in the discussion. Results indicate that the lesson broadened students’ perspectives on the value of AI in problem-solving and increased their willingness to use AI chatbots. The discussion includes recommendations for improvement and customization of the lesson plan for future use.