The Influence of Convergence Design Lessons Using Artificial Intelligence(AI) on Middle School Students' Self-Directed Learning: Focusing on Game Design Class that Removes Space Debris

Background This study aims to investigate how a middle school's convergence design class using AI affects self-directed learning. Methods To proceed with this study, a literature search and fact-finding were conducted. For the middle school convergence design, 6 lessons of space debris removal web game using AI was developed through the convergence of science and information subjects, focusing on art class. The contents of the class were revised and supplemented with the advice of three experts in convergence education and three experts in AI technologies. From November to December 2020, 6 lessons were conducted for 128 students from 4 classes in the 3rd grade of Y middle school in Gyeonggi-do, and evaluation and analysis were conducted on 95 students who participated in both pre-and postanalysis. The data of this study were processed for computational statistics using SPSS 21.0, and were verified at significance levels p<.05, p<.01, and p<.001. Results The pre-and post-analysis of 95 respondents among the total students who experienced the convergence design class using AI, investigated the effectiveness of the class in the following three areas based on the results of the response sample t-test; self-directed learning; interest; consideration and communication. ‘Self-directed learning’ focused on changes in the ability of students to take ownership for their learning, and ‘interest’ focused on changes of interest in the subjects. The attitude of consideration and communication in the class was also considered. It was verified that there were statistically significant educational effects in the above three areas, and for all factors, the value increased by 0.55 in the post-analysis(M= 3.04) compared to the pre-analysis(M=2.49). Conclusions As a result of this study, it was found that middle school's convergence design class using AI has positive effects on students' self-directed learning. Although there are limitations to generalizing this result since this study was conducted for 3 classes only, I hope that the research on similar topics will continue to spread to the educational field.