CMU Researches Explore Using AI in the Classroom

Can integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the classroom enhance personalized learning experiences for students? Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is at the forefront of this very question with several initiatives.

GAITAR Fellowships

In October 2023, the Eberly Center launched the Generative Artificial Intelligence Teaching as Research (GAITAR), a three-year initiative funded by the Provost, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Innovation, and Eberly Center, to measure the impacts of the generative AI tools on learning and education at CMU.

The GAITAR Fellowships program seeks to determine whether generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Dall-E, and Copilot enhance student learning and equity, in what teaching contexts, and for which learning objectives. The findings of each Fellows project will be released this fall.

Seed Grants for Generative AI Research and Development

Faculty are conducting additional research using seed grants for research and development. The university awards these grants to support and promote the research and development of generative AI tools in education.

Examples of current grant-funded generative AI educational tool development efforts include:

• Suguru Ishizaki, David Kaufer, and David Brown at Dietrich College are building generative AI tools to support learners in their writing proficiency by applying research-based principles derived from the literature on the writing process and pedagogy.
• A study proposed by computer science and psychology professors Ken Koedinger, Jionghao Lin, and Eason Chen in SCS are investigating how generative AI techniques can produce effective and scalable multimodal feedback.
• Jocelyn Dueck in CFA and Shuqi Dai in SCS proposed using new generative AI technologies to build an application that identifies good patterns of rhythm and sound, prosody, in singing.

As CMU continues to explore the potential of generative AI in education, the outcomes of these initiatives will provide valuable insights into how it can be harnessed to create more personalized and effective learning experiences.

The findings from the GAITAR Fellowships and seed grants will not only inform future teaching practices at CMU but also contribute to the broader discourse on the role of AI in education. With these pioneering efforts, CMU is poised to lead the way in integrating cutting-edge technology into the classroom, ultimately enhancing the educational landscape for students and educators alike.