(photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana University)
Indiana University researchers are developing a new chatbot that will make it easier for teachers to create more inclusive STEM activities—opening the door for marginalized students to engage in sustained STEM learning and STEM careers.
The project, led by IU’s Jeremy Price and Sunandan Chakraborty, will leverage artificial intelligence to engage teachers in conversations about the best ways to adapt existing lesson plans and create new ones that are more inclusive and equitable for diverse students. Their work is supported by a one-year, $200,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
“One of the chatbot’s most distinctive features will be its capacity to adapt and learn from the diverse backgrounds and preferences of users, tailoring interactions and activities with a high degree of context-sensitivity,” said Chakraborty, an assistant professor of data science in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering at IUPUI. “This adaptive and personalized approach sets it apart, ensuring that it can effectively cater to the unique needs and characteristics of each participant.”