Effects of Image-Generative AI Combined with Supervised-AI Game-Based Learning on Students’ Learning Effectiveness and AI Literacy

While text-generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly explored in education, there remains a significant gap in understanding how image-generative AI (image-GenAI) can be effectively integrated into curricula. This is particularly true within game-based learning (GBL) frameworks, which offer a promising avenue for engaging young learners. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of integrating an image-GenAI tool into a GBL activity on elementary school students’ learning effectiveness and AI literacy. This research employed a single-group pretest-posttest design involving 28 fifth- and sixth-grade students in a 2-day camp. The intervention integrated the “AI2 Robot City” board game with an image-GenAI tool under the guidance and supervision of teachers and an AI model training platform. Students generated images with AI and then used these creations to train an image recognition model that controlled a robot in the game, aiming to enhance both conceptual understanding and practical AI skills. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in students’ overall learning effectiveness from pretest to posttest. Regarding AI literacy, while most dimensions did not show significant changes, a significant enhancement was observed in the “AI creation” dimension. This indicates that the hands-on experience of using GenAI for a creative, goal-oriented task effectively fostered students’ confidence and ability to create with AI technology. The study concludes that integrating image-GenAI with GBL is a powerful pedagogical approach for enhancing learning effectiveness and specifically developing AI creation competencies in young students. The findings underscore the importance of hands-on, engaging, and creation-focused activities in AI education. However, the short duration of the intervention highlights the need for longer-term and more comprehensive strategies to foster other crucial aspects of AI literacy, such as ethical reasoning.