ChatGPT-supported STEAM IBL research is split evenly between K-12 and higher education, but undergraduates dominate and no study examined elementary learners¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · quant-synthesis r1–r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The 24 studies were evenly distributed between K-12 and higher education (12 each), with undergraduates the largest participant group (n = 10) and no study focused on elementary school students. → Haozhe Jiang 2026 q3 i? Most studies were small: 13 studies had 31-100 participants and 23 of 24 involved fewer than 300 participants, indicating ChatGPT has yet to be studied at scale in STEAM-related IBL. → Haozhe Jiang 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Haozhe Jiang 2026¶

Haozhe Jiang, Yixin Li, Ritesh Chugh, Yueyou Xin and Hongyu Cheng. (2026). The AI-powered co-inquirer: a systematic review of ChatGPT for inquiry-based learning in STEAM education. International Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-026-00628-9

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r1

RQ1 participant-group analysis of the 24 reviewed studies, reported alongside the finding that studies were evenly split with 12 in each of K-12 and higher education. The review states "no study focused on elementary school students."

"Undergraduate students constituted the largest single participant group (n = 10), followed by middle school students (n = 8), high school students (n = 4), and postgraduate students (n = 2). Notably, no study focused on elementary school students."

Haozhe Jiang 2026 (2)¶

Haozhe Jiang, Yixin Li, Ritesh Chugh, Yueyou Xin and Hongyu Cheng. (2026). The AI-powered co-inquirer: a systematic review of ChatGPT for inquiry-based learning in STEAM education. International Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-026-00628-9

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r2

RQ1 sample-size distribution across the 24 studies (Fig. 7), with most studies (n = 13) ranging from 31 to 100 participants. The review concludes the field lacks large-scale studies of ChatGPT in STEAM IBL.

"The largest share (n = 23) involved fewer than 300 participants. Although sample size correlates with methodological design, the finding indicates that ChatGPT has yet to be studied at scale in STEAM-related IBL."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Research on ChatGPT-supported STEAM inquiry-based learning is unevenly distributed across disciplines, concentrated in science and mathematics — related
• ChatGPT applications in STEAM IBL cluster in the investigation, conceptualization and discussion phases, leaving orientation and conclusion largely unexplored — related
• ChatGPT use in STEAM IBL is reported to enhance learner outcomes including motivation, critical thinking, engagement, and problem-solving — related
• ChatGPT use in STEAM IBL is reported to improve teaching efficiency, student engagement, and flexible instructional design — related
• Learner-level challenges of ChatGPT in STEAM IBL include over-reliance, inaccurate or irrelevant feedback, conceptual confusion, and diminished creativity — related
• Educator- and institutional-level challenges include curricular misalignment, need for teacher mediation, unequal access, privacy concerns, academic integrity risks, and algorithmic bias — related
• Undergraduate students were the most studied academic level in AIEd higher education research, at 72% of studies — related