Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence—AERA 2024 Annual Meeting
 
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Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance teaching and learning practices is one of the hottest emerging topics in education research. The following sessions provide a special focus on AI. All times are in Eastern Time. For more detailed information about session participants and papers, download a full list here.

April 11

9:00 am to 10:30 am

AI, Psychometrics, and Data Analysis
Thursday, April 11, 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
Division D - Section 2: Quantitative Methods and Statistical Theory, Roundtable Session


Chair: Youmi Suk (Teachers College, Columbia University)

This roundtable includes a collection of papers focused on AI methods, latent measurement variables in randomized control trials, missing data in predictive modeling, and new perspectives on simulating non-normally distributed data. Studies shared in this session include simulation studies as well as applied, empirical examples of the various methodologies.

10:50 am to 12:20 pm

AI and Formative Assessment: The Train Has Left the Station
Thursday, April 11, 10:50 am to 12:20 pm

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 102AB
Division C - Section 1d: Science, Structured Poster Session


Chairs: Xiaoming Zhai (University of Georgia), Gyeong-Geon Lee (University of Georgia)
Discussant: Joseph S. Krajcik (Michigan State University)

The keynote of this structured poster session is to examine the current state of artificial intelligence (AI)-based formative assessment tools and identify future directions for research and practice to support STEM education. This structured poster session assembled ten cutting-edge research reports conducted at twelve institutions across the globe. The papers present how AI-based formative assessment is being realized for open-ended questions, scaffolding, analogy generation, multi-modal assessment, social justice science issues, etc. Researchers will present empirical studies, which are supported by various theoretical perspectives. The session extends our understanding of the interdisciplinary initiative on AI-based formative assessment practices led by global scholars.

Graduate Student Council Division I Fireside Chat: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Professions: What Grad Students and Educators Need to Know
Thursday, April 11, 10:50 am to 12:20 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 5 - Salon H
Graduate Student Council, Invited Speaker Session


Chairs: Penelope Lusk (University of Pennsylvania) 
Discussant: Justin Bullock (University of Washington)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Researchers in professions education must be prepared to navigate a world with AI or risk being left behind. This discussion will draw on the expertise of panelists with varied experience with AI, highlighting perspectives around opportunities and challenges of AI.The panel will focus on what Graduate students and junior scholars in the professions need to know about AI. The panel will focus on AI at large, not on the implementation of specific AI tools. Participants will hear from a diverse group of panelists who will share about their body of work in this field.

12:40 pm to 2:10 pm

AI and Computational Thinking in Action
Thursday, April 11, 12:40 pm to 2:10 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
SIG-Design and Technology, 
Roundtable Session

Chair: Tugce Aldemir (Texas A&M University)

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Artificial Intelligence for Diverse Learners
Thursday, April 11, 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall A
SIG-Computer and Internet Application in Education, Poster Session

Critical Sociotechnical Perspectives on Young People Using, Experiencing, and Making Sense of AI
Thursday, April 11, 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
SIG-Writing and Literacies, Roundtable Session

Chairs: Jennifer Higgs (University of California - Davis), José Ramón Lizárraga (University of Colorado - Boulder)

4:20 pm to 5:50 pm

Rethinking Research on Learning, Instruction and Assessment in the Era of Generative AI
Thursday, April 11, 4:20 pm to 5:50 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 115C
Division C Vice Presidential Session: Rethinking Research on Learning, Instruction and Assessment in the Era of Generative AI


Chair: Pasha Antonenko (University of Florida)
Discussant: Roger Azevedo (University of Central Florida)

Opportunities and Challenges in Teaching Algorithmic Justice in K-12 Computing Education
Thursday, April 11, 4:20 pm to 5:50 pm

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 103B
Division C - Section 1e: Engineering and Computer Science, Structured Poster Session


Chairs: Luis Morales-Navarro (University of Pennsylvania), Yasmin B. Kafai (University of Pennsylvania), Gayithri Jayathirtha (University of Oregon)
Discussants: Aman Yadav (Michigan State University), Tia C. Madkins (University of Texas at Austin)

Despite increasing interest in justice and fairness research in computing, in education little attention has been given to how teachers can support learners to engage with algorithmic justice. Today we recognize that algorithmic systems are not neutral, they reflect the values of their creators, and are not the solution to all problems—often causing or perpetuating existing problems. In this session, we offer perspectives on teaching computing, particularly artificial intelligence and machine learning and algorithmic justice in K-12, from co-designing learning activities with teachers, to teacher training and the implementation of curricula that center algorithmic justice. Considering issues of justice in the classroom is imperative for teachers to prepare youth to participate in a world where AIML is ubiquitous.

Educator Perceptions and Uses of AI
Thursday, April 11, 4:20 pm to 5:50 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 3 - Room 301
SIG-Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning, Paper Session

Chair: Bret Staudt Willet (Florida State University)
Discussant: Lauren Bagdy (University of Georgia) 

Empowering Educators: Technological Integration, AI, And Pedagogical Advancements in Teaching
Thursday, April 11, 4:20 pm to 5:50 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall A
SIG-Computer and Internet Application in Education, Poster Session


April 12

7:45 am to 9:15 am

Integrating AI Education in K-12 Humanities Curricula: Opportunities, Challenges, Design Considerations, and Promising Solutions
Friday, April 12, 7:45 am to 9:15 am
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 111B
Division C - Section 3b: Technology-Based Environments, Symposium


Chairs: Shiyan Jiang (North Carolina State University), Duri Long (Northwestern University)
Discussant: Victor R. Lee (Stanford University)

Integrating K-12 AI (Artificial Intelligence) education in humanities curricula can equip students with interdisciplinary skills for an increasingly AI-driven world, extending access beyond STEM. However, it also poses challenges related to curriculum design, teacher training, and ensuring equitable access. In this symposium, a diverse group of researchers will delve into opportunities, challenges, design considerations, and solutions by presenting empirical studies on designing and implementing AI-infused humanities curricula, providing valuable insights into effective pedagogical approaches, student engagement, and the impact on critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning. These studies will contribute to the ongoing discourse on K-12 AI education, informing educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers about best practices, potential pitfalls, and strategies to ensure inclusive access to AI education.

9:35 am to 11:05 am

AI, Politics, Outdoor Learning, and Gardens: Where is the Golden Dewey Thread?
Friday, April 12, 9:35 am to 11:05 am
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
SIG-Dewey Studies
, Roundtable Session

Chair: Jiwon Kim (Monmouth University)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Cognition and Learning
Friday, April 12, 9:35 am to 11:05 am
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 5 - Salon K
SIG-Technology, Instruction, Cognition & Learning, Paper Session

Chair: Curtis J. Bonk (Indiana University) 

Perspectives on Promoting Algorithmic Justice in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Education in K-12
Friday, April 12, 9:35 am to 11:05 am
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 102AB
SIG-Learning Sciences, Structure Poster Session

Chairs: Luis Morales-Navarro (University of Pennsylvania), Yasmin B. Kafai (University of Pennsylvania)
Discussants: Nichole D. Pinkard (Northwestern University), Danaë Metaxa (University of Pennsylvania)

Despite the increasing interest in justice and fairness in computing, in education little attention has been paid to learning algorithmic justice. Today we recognize that algorithmic systems are not neutral, they reflect the values of their creators, and are not the solution to all problems—often causing or perpetuating existing problems. In this session, we offer diverse perspectives on the state of algorithmic justice in learning research, from how youth understand issues of justice in artificial intelligence/machine learning (AIML) systems they use in their everyday lives, to how they consider algorithmic justice when making applications. Researching and fostering understanding of issues of algorithmic justice is increasingly important to prepare youth to participate in a world where AIML is ubiquitous.

11:25 am to 12:55 pm

Ethics of AI in Ed: Five Humans and ChatGPT Discuss
Friday, April 12, 11:25 am to 12:55 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 4 - Franklin 11
SIG-Instructional Technology, Symposium


Chair: Glenn G. Smith (University of South Florida)

Join an engaging dialogue with six experts – a computer scientist, two philosophers, an instructional technology expert, a social studies scholar, and ChatGPT – exploring the ethics of AI in education. Delve into the nuances of bias, privacy, automation, transparency, and accountability. The panelists' exchange unfolds in three acts: (a) delivering incisive presentations based on studies related to AI in education, including one by ChatGPT (b) using digital polling to visualize where the audience stands on AI’s educational usefulness or harmfulness, and (c) expanding the debate to encompass audience positions and questioning of panelists. This exploration of the ethics of AI in Education is meant to challenge, provoke, and find common ground. Your participation is warmly invited. 

3:05 pm to 4:35 pm

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy and Computational Thinking Education
Friday, April 12, 3:05 pm to 4:35 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 3 - Room 307

SIG-Technology, Instruction, Cognition & Learning, Paper Session

Chair: Bret Staudt Willet (Florida State University)

4:55 pm to 6:25 pm

Dismantling the Color Lines of the 21st Century: Race and Racism in AI Enabled Social and Virtual Spaces
Thursday, April 12, 4:55 pm to 6:25 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 200 - Room 201A
Presidential Session, Invited Speaker Session


Chair: Kui Xie (Michigan State University) 
Discussant: Amber D. Dumford (University of South Florida - Tampa)
Participants:  Brendesha M. Tynes (University of Southern California), James L. Moore (National Science Foundation)

The rapid development and integration of newer technologies, such as social media, virtual reality, and AI, have profoundly impacted our society and educational systems. These technologies have transformed the spaces where children and educators teach, learn, and live. In this context, crucial questions arise regarding the significance of race and racism within these virtual realms. There is already some evidence that AI tools can cause discriminatory harm – often based on existing bias in the data that informs the AI algorithms, development, design, implementation, and use. With the ability to customize avatars and engage in interactions both with other humans and AI algorithms, it becomes essential to explore questions, such as, What do race and racism mean in these AI enabled social and virtual spaces? How race and racism manifest in these spaces? While individuals control their virtual representations, it remains crucial to examine the ways in which racial dynamics shape these environments.
Moreover, it is imperative to address how we can dismantle the color lines of the 21st century within AI-enabled social and virtual spaces. We must strive to establish guidelines, standards, and strategies that promote diversity and equity in these technological advancements and applications within educational systems. By doing so, we can work towards fostering an inclusive educational environment that ensures fair and equal opportunities for all individuals, irrespective of their race or background.

Learning and Teaching with AI
Friday, April 12, 4:55 pm to 6:25 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 111B
Division C - Section 3b: Technology-Based Environments, Paper Session


Chair: Xinhui Xiong (Educational Testing Service)

AI and Virtual Mentoring
Friday, April 12, 4:55 pm to 6:25 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B

SIG-Mentorship and Mentoring Practices, Roundtable Session

Chair: Leesa M. Riviere (Independent Researcher)

Virtual mentoring can be used in various ways: as a scaffolding of professional assistance, an introduction of AI through Google Bard and ChatGPT, implementing an eSTEM mentoring protocol, and matching college students with real-life STEM professionals


April 13

11:25 am to 12:55 pm

Cross-Cutting Research across Three NSF-funded National AI Institutes on Education
Saturday, April 13, 11:25 am to 12:55 pm

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 115B
Division C - Section 3b: Technology-Based Environments, Symposium


Chair: Christopher J. Dede (Harvard University)
Discussant: Fengfeng Ke (Florida State University)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded a total of twenty-five 5 year, $20M National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institutes related to various fields. To date, five of these Institutes are focused on AI-Augmented Learning. The Principal Scientists of the three Institutes funded before 2022 will each share their accomplishments to date, challenges they face and planned research. Commonalities and differences across this work-in-progress will be highlighted by the Chair and a Discussant. Major themes in AI and education among these Institutes include AI-based agents that interact with instructors and learners, participatory design with users, a focus on motivation as well as learning, ethical use of AI, and modification of initial research plans to include the rapid evolution of generative AI.

Authentic Responses From Students in the Age of ChatGPT: Guidelines for Dos and Don’ts
Saturday, April 13, 11:25 am to 12:55 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 5 - Salon J
SIG-Test Validity Research and Evaluation, Symposium


Chair: Michael Fauss (Educational Testing Service) 

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, testing and assessment, the prevalence of AI-powered language models like ChatGPT has raised concerns about the authenticity of student responses. This symposium aims to explore challenges and solutions related to the use of generative AI by students and test takers. It will feature five talks that delve into the topics of using AI to generate text at different grade levels, identifying AI-generated content, the strength and weaknesses of current detection tools, guidelines for their use, as well as the problem of potential biases introduced by them. The symposium will shed light on the ethical implications and provide strategies to uphold academic integrity in the age of ChatGPT.

1:15 pm to 2:45 pm

GPT-Assisted Instruction
Saturday, April 13, 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
Division C - Section 3b: Technology-Based Environments, Roundtable Session


Chair: Lori Kupczynski (Texas A&M University - Kingsville)

The AI Dilemma in Qualitative Research
Saturday, April 13, 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 118A
Division D - Section 3: Qualitative Research Methods, Paper Session

Chair: Veena Vasudevan (University of Pittsburgh)
Discussant: Mirka E. Koro (Arizona State University)

(How) should qualitative researchers embrace the AI revolution? The papers in this session explore the uses, ethics, and other dilemmas of AI technologies in qualitative inquiry. *Abstract (not?) written by ChatGPT.

Accepting the Challenge: Technology-Based Performance Assessment of University Students’ Critical Thinking in Times of ChatGPT
Saturday, April 13, 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 116
Division D - Section 4: Multi-Method and Mixed Methods, Symposium


Chairs: Olga Zlatkin Troitschanskaia (Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz), Johannes Hartig (DIPF - Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education)
Discussants: Frank Goldhammer (DIPF - Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education), Jacqueline P. Leighton (University of Alberta)

Universities increasingly use performance assessments (PAs) to measure students’ complex (meta-)cognitive skills and learning outcomes. Using a holistic criterion-sampling approach, the PAs represent real-life decision-making situations in which critical thinking or other skills are required to meeting academic/professional demands. Technology-based PAs provide new opportunities for valid measuring complex skills like critical reasoning in real online learning environments by collecting multimodal response-process data like log files and conducting mix-methods analyses (incl. process-mining) and learning analytics. However, PAs pose conceptual, methodological and practical challenges in times of ChatGPT because text generating is a key component of the measurement. This symposium discusses frontiers, advances, and research perspectives of technology-based PA approaches of measuring university students’ critical thinking/online reasoning that embrace generative AI developments.

3:05 pm to 4:35 pm

Changing Trends in Assessments Across the Health Professions: Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Saturday, April 13, 3:05 pm to 4:35 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 200 - Room 204C
Division I - Education in the Professions, Symposium


Chairs: Kuan Xing (University of Iowa), Yoon Soo Park (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Discussants: Amanda Clauser (National Board of Medical Examiners), Monica M. Cuddy (National Board of Medical Examiners)

Assessing learners and professionals with utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) or through longitudinal frameworks is increasingly implemented across the professions. AI/MI-aided techniques provide innovative ways to collect, analyze, and interpret learner’s learning and assessment data. Changing trends in assessments across health professions prompt opportunities as well as challenges. This symposium is designed to address upcoming trends in assessment shifting focus toward AI/ML and/or longitudinal frameworks and to rethink the balance between formative assessments and learning in the professions.

Assessment in the Advent of Process Data and AI
Saturday, April 13, 3:05 pm to 4:35 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 4 - Room 401
SIG-Cognition and Assessment, Invited Speaker session

Chair: Jimmy de la Torre (University of Hong Kong)
Discussant: Steven Andrew Culpepper (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)


April 14

7:45 am to 9:15 am

The Intersection of AI: Entertainment, Mental Health, Media Violence, And Healthcare Disparities
Sunday, April 14, 7:45 am to 9:15 am

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 3 - Room 303
SIG-Media, Culture, and Learning, Symposium

Chair:  John Mullen (Rowan University) 

Trends And Challenges Of Artificial Intelligence In Education
Sunday, April 14, 7:45 am to 9:15 am

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 4 - Room 408
SIG-Computer and Internet Application in Education, Paper Session

Chair:  Jiahui Wang (Kent State University)
Discussant: Kendall Hartley (University of Nevada - Las Vegas)

9:35 am to 11:05 am

Advances in Automated Feedback: Equity, Algorithms, Implementation, and Validation
Sunday, April 14, 9:35 am to 11:05 am

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 119B
Division C - Section 1a: Literacy, Symposium


Chair: Mark D. Shermis (Performance Assessment Analytics, LLC)
Discussant: Joshua Wilson (University of Delaware)

Automated feedback–feedback provided by computers regarding students’ writing—is shown to be effective for helping students develop their writing skills and supporting teachers in planning and delivering writing instruction. Yet, there are many issues surrounding the use of automated feedback, such as the quality of automated feedback, whether students trust and utilize automated feedback, and whether automated feedback reflects and perpetuates biases, among other issues. This session will present five papers that address these issues, highlighting the cutting edge of automated feedback on writing and how best to navigate maximize learning outcomes using automated feedback while minimizing any attendant risks inherent in this increasingly ubiquitous technology.

AI Across Educational Contexts
Sunday, April 14, 9:35 am to 11:05 am

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 113B
Division C - Section 3b: Technology-Based Environments, Paper Session


Chair: Vania Castro (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Role Playing, and Embodied Escape: (Re)Imagining Learning in the Peripheries of Play
Sunday, April 14, 9:35 am to 11:05 am

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 4 - Franklin 9
SIG-Media, Culture, and Learning, Symposium


Chair: Kyle P. Smith (University of Michigan)
Discussant: Haeny S. Yoon (Teachers College, Columbia University)

Games are not only forms of documentation, communication, expression, and play but critical sites and technologies for learning. Indeed, as research illustrates, games not only further the development of domain-specific knowledge but also provide the designed constraints - analog or digital - rendered necessary to learn specific practices. Moving beyond the content/context divide (Squire, 2006), this proposed symposium brings together a group of researchers from three different institutions to reimagine learning in the peripheries of play. Thinking with an array of diverse theories - from cultural studies and interaction analysis to narratology and critical geography - presenters examine how the designed landscapes and environments of gaming (e.g., videogames, role-playing games, immersive escape rooms) serve as mediational resources and palimpsests that foster and advance consequential learning.

11:25 am to 12:55 pm

AI and Its Application as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning
Sunday, April 14, 11:25 am to 12:55 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
SIG-Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning, Roundtable Session

Chair: Jennifer Suzanne Darling-Aduana (Georgia State University)
Presenters: David Baidoo-Anu (Queen's University - Kingston), Isaac Amoako (Atebubu College of Education), Daniel Asamoah (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), Inuusah Mahama (University of Education, Winneba), Tatevik Mamikonyan (University of California - Los Angeles), Matthew Nyaaba (University of Georgia), Xiaoming Zhai (University of Georgia), Valerie Harlow Shinas (Lesley University), Şule Yılmaz Özden (Sakarya University)

ChatGPT, AI, and APPs: Technology and Language Instruction Across Settings
Sunday, April 14, 11:25 am to 12:55 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
SIG-Second Language Research, Roundtable Session

Chair: Lee B. Abraham (Columbia University)

1:15 pm to 2:45 pm

How to Use AI and Improve Digital Competencies to Enact Educational Justice
Sunday, April 14, 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Second Floor - Exhibit Hall B
Division K - Section 09: Initial Teacher and Teacher Educator Preparation, Roundtable Session


Chair: Nathan Andrew Haw (Texas A&M University)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Literacy Education
Sunday, April 14, 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 3 - Room 304
SIG-Writing and Literacies, Symposium

Chair: T. Philip Nichols (Baylor University)
Discussant: Ezekiel J. Dixon-Roman (Teachers College, Columbia University)

This symposium explores the evolving relationship between literacy education and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and its implications for equity-oriented research, policy, and practice. Convening scholars whose work cuts across theories, methods, and research contexts, its papers offer multiple entry points for weighing the genealogies, pedagogies, and strategies that may be of use in clarifying the relations between AI and literacy education and their stakes for educational justice.

3:05 pm to 4:35 pm

AI Advancements for Literacy Learning and Beyond
Sunday, April 14, 3:05 pm to 4:35 pm

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100 - Room 113B
Division C - Section 1a: Literacy, Paper Session


Chair: Monaliza Maximo Chian (University of Northern Iowa)
Discussant: Rafael A. Espinoza Pizarro (Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica)

Empowering the Graduate Scholar: Practical Applications of ChatGPT in Academic Research and Learning
Sunday, April 14, 3:05 pm to 4:35 pm
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 5 - Salon H
Graduate Student Council, Invited Speaker Session

Chair: Nicole Marie Johnson (Howard University)

In an era where data is the new oil, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and conversational agents like ChatGPT are revolutionizing the way we approach education, particularly at the graduate level. This seismic shift is not merely a technological advancement but a pedagogical transformation that redefines the boundaries of learning, mentorship, and academic inquiry. This fireside session aims to serve as a crucible for exploring the multitude of applications and ethical dimensions of AI in graduate education. The session will commence with a brief of the theoretical frameworks that underpin the integration of AI in educational settings, such as the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework and the Community of Inquiry model.