STEM-Reforming Standard Curriculum Concepts Through AI Integration: A Case of Chemical Reactions

This chapter explores how the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the teaching of chemical reactions can reform standard STEM education by fostering deeper understanding, creativity, and real-world application. It presents a progressive instructional model comprising warm-up, immersion, and application phases that encourage student-centred learning, interdisciplinary connections, and the development of key competences. Through activities such as experimental reaction cycles, real-life problem-solving (e.g., chemical warmers), and AI-supported inquiry, students engage with chemical transformations not only through formal concepts but also in socio-environmental and ethical contexts. AI tools—including image recognition, simulations, language models, and data analysis—enhance personalization, critical thinking, and digital literacy. This chapter emphasizes the importance of preparing future teachers to use AI pedagogically, guiding students to reflect critically on scientific information and encouraging responsible, evidence-based decision-making. While the integration of AI brings new opportunities, the chapter also addresses challenges such as ensuring content accuracy, promoting ethical usage, and supporting teacher training. Ultimately, this approach exemplifies how chemical reactions can be taught in ways that are technologically advanced, contextually grounded, and competency-driven—offering a model for broader STEM curriculum reform in the age of intelligent technologies.