Date of Award

2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

First Advisor

Fredrick Mtenzi

Department

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings is becoming increasingly prevalent globally. Despite the Kenyan government's efforts to strengthen performance in STEM subjects like physics, significant strides have yet to be achieved. Consequently, there is a pressing need to explore the utilization of AI, particularly ChatGPT, as a pedagogical tool to elevate physics education in Kenyan secondary schools. This study aimed to explore how ChatGPT can be utilized as a pedagogical tool to improve physics education within Kenyan secondary schools. Employing a qualitative approach with an action research design, the study comprised reconnaissance, intervention, and post-intervention phases conducted in two cycles at a public secondary school in Rachuonyo East sub-county. It primarily focused on ChatGPT's role, an AI language model, in real-time lesson planning, content creation, and assessment tasks, also examining its impact on pedagogical practices and the challenges associated with its integration into the classroom. Participants included one physics teacher and fifteen form-three students. Data was collected through document analysis, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, reflective journals, and lesson observations and analyzed thematically. Reconnaissance findings revealed limited integration of ICT, absence of AI utilization, and reduced learner engagement in the physics classroom due to teacher-centered instructional methods. Intervention findings uncovered ChatGPT’s potential to support teachers with lesson planning, content generation, and assessment facilitation, digitizing, and simplifying these processes. Moreover, data indicates that ChatGPT’s use in physics classrooms enhanced learner engagement, motivation, and comprehension of abstract physics concepts. It however emphasizes the importance of a balanced AI integration approach that preserves students' creative and critical thinking abilities. Teachers need to be made aware and prepared to explore the full ChatGPT's transformative potential in teaching and learning. Finally, it recommends further research across subjects to explore AI applicability and tailored professional development programs for educators. Prioritizing customized pedagogical approaches and collaborative learning environments is essential for effective AI integration in education.

First Page

1

Last Page

112

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