Empowering Educators with AI: A System for Designing Integrated STEM Projects Using Machine Learning and Large Language Models

Integrated STEM projects and experiments promote interdisciplinary learning, enhance critical thinking, and prepare students for real-world problem-solving by bridging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. While numerous research studies have explored the STEM education domain, few have focused on supporting educators in identifying and designing effective integrated STEM projects and experiments. This research addresses this gap by introducing a novel system that leverages machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs) to assist educators in classifying and creating integrated STEM projects.We created and labeled a dataset of 1,071 project descriptions in this research work, mapped to one or more STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). The dataset was developed using manually curated records, harvesting online sources, and synthetic data generation. Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques were applied to prepare project descriptions for analysis. Various ML models, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Logistic Regression, and Naive Bayes, were used for multi-label classification. The Random Forest model achieved the best performance, with a Precision of 91.99%, Recall of 94.59%, F1 Score of 93.27%, and Hamming Loss of 6.74%.The system operates in two phases: In Phase 1, the instructor proposes a project title with a description, and in response, the ML model identifies one or more STEM areas as the most relevant. In Phase 2, ChatGPT, specifically GPT-4o, assists educators by defining experiment objectives, generating ideas, designing procedures, and suggesting tools and resources. This human-in-the-loop system enhances collaboration between educators, ML models, and LLMs, streamlining the design of effective integrated STEM projects.This work's implications extend to improving the accessibility and effectiveness of integrated STEM education by reducing the barriers educators face in designing interdisciplinary projects. It provides a scalable framework for integrating advanced AI techniques into educational practices and fostering classroom innovation.