Revolutionizing Formative Assessment in STEM Fields: Leveraging AI and NLP Techniques

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been extensively studied in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but there is a disparity between AI-generated and human-written scientific content. To bridge this gap, a prototype utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques and a large language model (LLM) generates assessment questions and evaluates student answers. This formative assessment system offers a user-friendly and scalable solution for higher education educators. It tailors’ assessments to individual students, accommodates varying capabilities, and facilitates performance analysis. Through rigorous evaluation and benchmarking, the prototype ensures alignment with High-Level Performance (HLP) standards. This AI-assisted formative assessment system enhances efficiency and efficacy by providing accurate and timely feedback. It has the potential to significantly improve STEM education through scalable and personalized formative assessment experiences. AI and NLP enable educators to access tailored assessment options, enhancing learning outcomes and the overall educational experience.