Cardiff Met researcher explores how AI can support inclusive STEM education

A new book co-authored by a researcher from Cardiff Metropolitan University is shining a light on how modern artificial intelligence (AI) could transform STEM education for all learners — especially those with additional needs.

Inclusive Education: STEM in the Age of Modern AI, published by Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, brings together the latest developments in AI with practical approaches to inclusive teaching. Chaminda Hewage, Associate Dean of Research at Cardiff School of Technologies, is one of the work’s four authors.

The book looks at how emerging technologies — including generative AI and advanced language models — can help create more accessible and supportive learning environments in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

It introduces a framework designed to better support students with special educational needs, showing how AI tools can be used to improve learning experiences and open up new opportunities. It looks at how inclusive education has developed over the past 20 years, and the ongoing challenge of making learning accessible to everyone.

Dr Hewage said: “We examine how AI technologies, such as generative AI and large language models, can be used to support more personalised and inclusive learning. We also explore how AI systems can help educators understand students’ emotions and behaviour, enabling better support in the classroom, as well as how it can help improve learning for students with visual and hearing impairments.

“The book is aimed at a wide audience, including students, teachers, researchers, developers, healthcare professionals and industry practitioners interested in the future of AI and education.”