
Enhancing Structural Engineering Education: Integrating Artificial Intelligence for Continuous Improvement
Espirales. Revista multidisciplinaria de investigación científica, Vol. 8, No. 48
January - March 2024. e-ISSN 2550-6862. pp 80-93
predicting learning progress, student performance, and satisfaction, resource
recommendations, automated assessment, and enhancing the overall learning
experience. These AI applications have gained widespread acceptance in educational
settings and demonstrated positive outcomes, such as accurate AI-backed predictions,
high-quality recommendations based on individual student characteristics, improved
academic performance, and increased online engagement. The research suggests three
key implications for future research: integrating educational theories into online learning
with AI, adopting advanced AI technologies for real-time data analysis, and conducting
empirical research to confirm the effects of AI applications in online higher education.
While previous studies Cosmes Aragón & Montoya Delgadillo (2021); Ghoniem &
Ghoniem (2022) have explored mathematical modeling in engineering education and
the need for technology-driven learning strategies in structural engineering, a gap
remains in understanding the impact of AI on structural engineering education. Despite
the proliferation of AI applications in Educational AI (AIED) seeking to enhance the
learning process, previous research Chichekian & Benteux (2022) has indicated a lack of
significant progress from a pedagogical and theoretical perspective in the AIED field.
This suggests an unawareness of previous review findings that may have impeded its
progress, emphasizing the necessity for a new review to address these limitations and
contribute to advancing learning theories and the effective implementation of AI
applications in the educational environment (Doblada & Caballes, 2021).
Therefore, promoting collaboration in researching and developing AI-based
educational technologies is crucial for improving engagement in educational settings.
This involves educators' involvement in decision-making and implementing AI
applications in classrooms, focusing on creating learning experiences that consider
student interaction with AI, including motivation and engagement. It is also essential to
clearly define the role of teachers in the classroom and consider their perspectives in
the development of AI-based educational technologies. Exploring the integration of
interdisciplinary perspectives for AI use in educational environments becomes essential,
emphasizing the importance of educators' involvement in assessing the pedagogical
and ethical implications of implementing AI applications in classrooms. This contributes
to the advancement of learning theories through a suitable and coherent conceptual
framework.
The overarching research question is then posed: What is the impact of using artificial
intelligence (AI) in structural learning through programming in open-source software
languages developed by early undergraduate civil engineering students, including
student perception, academic performance, and factors contributing to AI success in
the learning process?
Materials and methods
To conduct the study, the ADDIE methodology (Analysis, Design, Development,
Implementation, and Evaluation) is employed, proven to be effective in the teaching
and learning process (Almelhi, 2021). Within the evaluation phase, the Four Levels of
Learning Evaluation by Donald Kirkpatrick (Kirkpatrick & Kirkpatrick, 2005) are utilized.