ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS IMPACT ON ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING OUTCOMES IN ABUJA'S SELECTED INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) education has transformed instructional methods, particularly in advancing personalized learning that adapts to individual students’ needs, pace, and learning styles. However, its implementation and impact in the Nigerian context, especially in international private secondary schools, remain limited. This study investigated the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are implemented to support personalized learning and assessed their impact on students’ academic engagement and learning outcomes in selected international private secondary schools in Abuja, Nigeria. The study answered two research questions, while a descriptive survey research design was used. Using a purposive sampling technique, a 360-study sample of 60 teachers and 300 senior secondary school students was chosen from a population of 1,200 teachers and more than 8,000 enrolled senior secondary school students. A structured questionnaire validated by experts in this area of study was designed and used to collect relevant data. Cronbach’s alpha method was used to assess the internal consistency of the instrument, and the reliability coefficient was 0.89. The collected data were analyzed using simple percentages, frequency distributions, and mean statistical ratings. Findings revealed that AI technologies were moderately implemented to support ML, with greater use observed in administrative and assessment functions than in AI delivery. Additionally, AI-powered PL tools had a positive impact on students’ academic engagement, motivation, and perceived learning outcomes. The study concluded that AI has significant potential to transform learning experiences when implemented and supported. Therefore, teachers’ training should be enhanced in the area of AI usage and adoption, and localized AI-driven educational platforms should be developed to promote equitable and effective personalized learning of students and achieve high academic performance.