Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on Research in Education
Year: 2025
DOI:
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Leveraging AI for Critical Thinking Development in Open University Education
Pimprapa Phanphai, Choneratt Suriyarangsun
ABSTRACT:
In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming education, leveraging AI to enhance critical reading skills is a significant step towards fostering students’ abilities to analyze and interpret information an essential foundation for lifelong learning. Aligning with the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) Development Plan (2018–2037), which emphasizes transitioning into a Digital University in the context of distance learning and the challenges of the increasing dropout rates among students each academic year, AI has been integrated into the university’s Learning Management System (LMS), known as STOU eLearning. This system supports the development of critical reading and literary analysis skills in English literature by designing activities, creating AI-assisted learning environments, and generating questions that encourage analytical and critical thinking. This study aimed to explore the application of AI plug-ins in e-Learning to promote such skills among undergraduate students. A survey and interviews were conducted with 429 undergraduate students across 12 faculties. Findings revealed that most participants expressed a desire to use AI plug-ins on the LMS, believing these tools could significantly enhance reading and analytical skills, particularly in summarizing content, posing questions, and verifying the accuracy of analyses. Respondents noted that AI plug-ins could reduce time spent on reading and analysis while improving learning efficiency. Recommendations included enhancing the performance and stability of AI plug-ins and increasing awareness and training to broaden their application.
keywords: ai-assisted learning, artificial intelligence,critical reading skills, distance learning, learning management system