Title: Opportunities and Limitations of Machine Learning and Generative AI in Chemistry Education
Abstract: In this presentation, I will apply the Strengths–Weaknesses–Opportunities–Threats–Strategies (SWOT–S) framework to critically examine the use of AI in chemistry education. Specifically, I will highlight three applications: (1) automated scoring of students’ scientific explanations, (2) the use of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to analyze the progression of chemical concepts across a series of textbooks, and (3) the potential of generative AI to support inquiry-based scenarios. Drawing upon these analyses, I will propose guidelines and recommendations for the meaningful integration of AI into chemistry education, with the goals of deepening students’ epistemic understanding of disciplinary knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary connections, and advancing knowledge-in-use in practical contexts—core dimensions essential to meaningful learning in chemistry.
Short Biography
Mei-Hung Chiu is a Professor Emerita of the Graduate Institute of Science Education of the National Taiwan Normal University. Dr. Chiu has published articles about science curriculum, students’ conceptual understanding and changes as well as modeling-based instruction, the use of facial micro-expressions in science learning, and the gender gap in chemistry in international well-known journals (such as Journal of Research in Science Teaching, International Journal of Science Education, Science Education, Chemical Education Research and Practice, Journal of Chemical Education, etc.).
She served as the President of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) based in the USA from 2016- 2017, the chair of the Committee on Chemistry Education of IUPAC (CCE, 2012-15), a member of the Bureau and the Executive Committee (2016-2019, 2020-2023), a titular member of IUPAC’s Committee on Ethics, Equity, and Inclusion (CEDEI), and a member of the Governing Board of the International Science Council (2022-2024).
She received the Distinguished Contribution to Chemical Education Award from the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS) in 2009, the Distinguished Contribution to Science Education Award from the Eastern-Asian Science Education Association (EASE) in 2016, the Distinguished Contribution to Science Education Award from the Association of Science Education in Taiwan (ASET) in 2021, and the 2021 Distinguished Woman in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering from IUPAC.
Web: https://scholar.lib.ntnu.edu.tw/en/persons/mei-hung-chiu/