THE ROLE OF CHATGPT IN STEM EDUCATION: ASSESSING ITS PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES, ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS, AND INFLUENCE ON STUDENT CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Özet

This study aims to explore the role of ChatGPT in STEM education, specifically examining its impact on student creativity, innovation, and engagement. The study investigates both the prospects and challenges of using ChatGPT in educational contexts, as well as the ethical implications associated with its use. A systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was conducted. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify empirical studies published after release of Chat GPT (30^th November 2022). While some studies highlighted its ability to stimulate creative thinking and support problem-solving by offering diverse perspectives, others indicated that over-reliance on the AI tool might hinder creativity, leading to passive learning behaviors. Concerns about plagiarism, the risk of reduced critical thinking, and the potential for students to adopt unoriginal ideas were also raised. Ethical implications such as data privacy issues, the authenticity of student work, and the impact of AI on student independence were discussed. ChatGPT holds promise as a tool for enhancing creativity and innovation in STEM education, but its integration must be carefully managed to mitigate challenges such as bias and over-reliance on technology. The study recommends that educators incorporate ChatGPT in ways that encourage critical thinking and independent problem-solving. This study contributes to the understanding of how AI tools like ChatGPT can influence STEM education, offering insights into both the benefits and limitations of such technologies in fostering student engagement and creativity.