October 2024

On October 28, AERA held a small convening with key experts and stakeholders for a discussion on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an Education Research Process and Methodology.” The convening centered on how AI could be used as a research methodology for research syntheses, as one example, while also highlighting ethical issues regarding bias and data quality that should be considered in the use of AI in producing education research.

“I convened this meeting to jump start a conversation worth having in education research and in other scientific fields where we seek to use new tools and technologies thoughtfully but innovatively to harness their potential for research and discovery,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “In education research, we study the use of AI, computer learning, video capture, and other technologies as potential ways to enhance teaching and learning. This meeting is an opportunity to ‘flip the switch’ and consider AI from the vantage of doing our own research work.”

The discussion included colleagues from federal research agencies, scientific institutions and organizations in the education research field, the academy, and scholars working and thinking about AI. The discussion kicked off with opening remarks from Stéphan Vincent-Lancrin, senior analyst and deputy head of division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Directorate for Education and Skills). Vincent-Lacrin noted that AI could be used in several ways to enhance education research, including through the development of tools and producing abstracts for research studies.

Vincent-Lacrin’s remarks were followed by initial comments from Ezekiel Dixon-Román, professor of critical race, media, and educational studies, and director of the Edmund W. Gordon Institute for Urban and Minority Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dixon-Román described the tensions between psychometrics and artificial intelligence for development of assessments and analysis of assessment data.

“Bringing thoughtful colleagues together on AI from a range of research contexts was energizing and engaging for attendees,” said Levine. “This is the first of several steps that we at AERA are taking as part of envisioning policies and best practices in the use of AI in education research.”

This convening will inform future efforts, such as sessions in the AERA Research and Science Policy Forum at the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting; a potential AERA artificial intelligence working group or task team; the engagement of the AERA Journal Publications Committee and AERA Annual Meeting Policies and Procedures Committee; or even a possible broad-based education research conference seeking to further unpack the topic.

For those with expertise and potential interest in the topic, please email govrelations@aera.net.