Frontiers in Education: Digital Learning Innovations

AI, and especially generative AI, may have an effect on the number of gifted people in the world. But whether this effect will be positive or negative is up to us, collectively, and to each individual. This essay opens with a consideration of possible effects of AI on the giftedness of a society taken as a whole. Then it presents a philosophical conundrum, that of the Chinese Room, that is relevant to assessing the effects of AI. Next it reviews some recent empirical literature relevant to the question of AI’s effects on cognition and cognitive gifts. Then it discusses these effects. Finally, it draws some conclusions, in particular, that whether AI increases or decreases giftedness in a society is not preordained, but rather reflects a choice.

Technological development is reshaping teaching and learning environments, particularly through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT in higher education. The objective of this study was to analyze university students’ intention to use ChatGPT, considering the gender variable. A quantitative methodology was employed, using an ad hoc questionnaire administered to a sample of 368 students from the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Málaga. Data analysis was conducted using the Jamovi software v2.3.26.0, applying techniques such as descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and ANOVA. The results showed widespread acceptance of ChatGPT, with no significant gender differences, suggesting a homogeneous adoption of this technology. These findings contrast with previous research indicating a gender gap in technology use. The importance of integrating AI into educational processes in a critical and pedagogically sound manner is emphasized, as well as the need to ensure equitable access. This study contributes to the understanding of how ChatGPT is perceived and used in academic contexts at the university level. It is recommended that the study be replicated in other contexts to validate the findings and broaden their applicability.

IntroductionTraditional teaching methods have been central to education systems worldwide. Still, digital innovation in higher education has transformed how education is delivered, introducing new teaching models and enhancing school management processes. However, most Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) face numerous limitations in effectively adopting digital systems, although these challenges are often context-specific.MethodsTo gain a deeper understanding of the scope and limitations of digitalization in higher education institutions, we conducted a comparative analysis of existing digital ecosystems across developed and developing countries.ResultsWe introduced a three-layer framework for digitalization comprising institutional strategies, technological tools, and pedagogical methods. These layers are further divided into several components that support innovation. Using data from multiple sources, we identified several current drivers of the adoption of digital innovation in universities, including student expectations and needs, technological advances, strategic leadership, and the rise of hybrid learning models. Additionally, we compared the rate of digitalization in HEIs between developed and developing countries; our findings indicated that innovation proceeds more smoothly and is easier to manage in developed nations. We highlighted strategies for scalable and sustainable innovation through successful case studies from well-known universities. To tackle systemic challenges in digitalization, their impacts, potential solutions, and levels of implementation, we employed a priority matrix approach. This approach showed that most challenges are quick wins when addressed and have a substantial impact on digitalization.DiscussionThis study emphasizes the importance of adaptive, inclusive, and strategic approaches that promote equity and encourage the adoption of global learning ecosystems by comparing digital innovation in developed and developing countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions in resource-constrained contexts to rapidly adopt online learning, yet little is known about how students in Sub-Saharan Africa experience and evaluate these platforms, particularly when facing severe infrastructure barriers. Understanding student satisfaction in these contexts is critical for ensuring educational equity and informing evidence-based policy. This study investigates student satisfaction with Google Classroom at the Faculty of Engineering—Lúrio University in Mozambique, where 220 students participated in a mixed-methods study during the 2020–2021 academic year. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical basis, the research examined overall satisfaction, demographic differences, challenges faced, and valued features of the platform. Results showed moderate satisfaction levels (M = 3.18, SD = 1.12 on a 5-point scale), with 35% of students expressing satisfaction and 28% expressing dissatisfaction. Internet connectivity quality was identified as the most significant factor affecting satisfaction (p < 0.001), while device type also influenced results (p < 0.05). Qualitative data identified six main challenges: connectivity issues, mobile data costs, social isolation, technical difficulties, limited interaction, and workload concerns. Students valued the platform’s flexibility, accessibility of materials, organization, and ease of use. The study emphasizes the need for infrastructure investment and targeted support systems for effective online learning, especially in resource-limited settings, providing useful insights for improving higher education quality during and after the pandemic.

Despite growing interest in educational digital leadership and supervision, validated instruments measuring supervisors’ digital competencies for their performance excellence (SDC-PE) remain scarce, particularly in developing nations. This study developed and validated the SDC-PE scale through stakeholder perceptions of 318 principals and teachers across 78 senior high schools in 17 districts of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The SDC-PE integrates classical supervision theories (Cogan, Goldhammer, Glickman) with ISTE Standards and DigCompEdu 2.2, yielding four dimensions: Strategic digital leadership (SDL), digital culture promotion (DGC), teacher digital development (TDD), and digital learning facilitation (DGL). Confirmatory composite analysis (CCA) using PLS-SEM demonstrated excellent psychometric properties: factor loadings (0.839–0.936), composite reliability (0.933–0.955), AVE (0.776–0.811), and model fit indices exceeding thresholds (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.960, RMSEA = 0.072). Discriminant validity was confirmed through Fornell-Larcker criterion and HTMT ratios (<0.85). The SDC-PE provides educational institutions with an empirically validated assessment tool for evaluating supervisor digital competencies, designing targeted professional development.

Within the global movement of cultural revival, the modern translation of poetic imagery (defined as the process of transmuting classical poetic symbols along with their emotional and cultural connotations into modern design elements) has emerged as a critical concern in Chinese design education, presenting a central tension between AI-driven efficiency and cultural depth. This study addresses three structural faults in current translation practices: fragmented symbolic extraction, weakened nostalgic drive, and over-reliance on AI tools. It establishes a tripartite efficacy evaluation framework encompassing emotion, cognition, and market dimensions, as well as a dual-cycle educational model featuring critical and iterative phases. A controlled experiment with 22 second-year product design majors (divided into an AI-assisted group and a traditional group) was conducted over a 4-weeks design psychology course, focusing on war, boudoir, and pastoral poetry themes. Results show that the AI-assisted group outperformed in emotional resonance (4.22 ± 0.38 vs. 3.54 ± 0.47) and market responsiveness (81.3% ± 8.2% vs. 64.1% ± 10.7%), while the traditional group maintained an advantage in cognitive completeness (83.7% ± 5.9% vs. 80.3% ± 5.1%). The dual-cycle model effectively reduced cultural misinterpretation rates in the AI group from 33% to 12%. Meanwhile, this study proposes the “Nostalgia-Congruent AI Guidelines (NCAI-G),” which regulates AI application from three aspects: symbolic fidelity, nostalgia coherence, and user safety. This study provides a reusable educational framework for balancing AI instrumental rationality and cultural value rationality, advancing traditional cultural design education toward quantitative evaluation-driven iteration.

Student feedback literacy is vital for effective use of feedback. While traditional peer review activities provide opportunities for students to practice giving and receiving feedback, their effectiveness is sometimes undermined because of interpersonal factors, such as friendship and psychological safety. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) offers a promising new avenue by providing adaptive and instant feedback; however, its effectiveness compared to traditional peer interaction and the underlying mechanisms remain underexplored and warrant further investigation. This study used a mixed-methods design with first-year undergraduates to explore the effect of GenAI and human peer feedback on student feedback literacy development. The study also analyzed the role of students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) as a mechanism explaining how these two feedback sources contribute to enhancing feedback literacy. The results revealed that GenAI yielded a small but significant improvement in developing feedback literacy compared to human peers. Qualitative analysis clarified this finding by uncovering behavioral differences between the two groups, highlighting GenAI’s specific support for the SRL process, especially in goal setting, planning, critical evaluation, and immediate self-reflection. These findings suggest that GenAI is powerful in fostering feedback literacy because it facilitates self-regulatory behaviors essential for effective interaction with feedback. Educators can strategically integrate GenAI in classroom activities to scaffold self-regulatory behaviors, fostering student feedback literacy development.

Virtual reality (VR) as a form of simulation-based learning can lead to better understanding of learners and increase motivation. Recent evidence shows effectiveness in teacher education in terms of skill growth for student teachers. In this regard, the perceived usefulness of a novel technology is a key factor affecting behavioral intention to use it. Therefore, this mixed-method study investigates the perception of the usefulness of a VR environment from the perspective of student teachers and explores to what extent the change in perception affects the intention to use it in later professional practice. To answer the questions, N = 57 student teachers from four countries assessed a VR environment designed for teaching mathematics. The VR environment deals with the spread of infectious diseases to address the mathematical issue of exponential growth. To assess its usefulness as well as its general potential, students filled in a questionnaire before and after the VR simulation and participated in an interview afterwards. The findings show a significant positive change in usefulness beliefs. Furthermore, perceived usefulness predicted intention to use the VR technology. Results from the interviews show the potential of the new technology in transcending certain boundaries of everyday teaching and emphasize on the affective component of a VR experience in schools. But also limitations for every day life and use of VR, for instance, with regard to specific age groups were mentioned. A main implication of this study is that an early experience of VR in teacher education underlines the willingness to use this technology in later professional life.

IntroductionTraditional approaches to teaching physics often struggle to engage students and to convey abstract concepts such as gas laws in a meaningful way. This challenge is particularly evident for learners accustomed to interactive and technology-mediated environments. Recent advances in embodied cognition and active learning suggest that multi-sensory interaction may enhance engagement and conceptual understanding. Visuo-haptic simulators represent a promising approach by combining visual and tactile feedback to support experiential learning.MethodsThis study developed a visuo-haptic simulator designed to support the exploration of Boyle's Law through interactive manipulation of pressure and volume variables. The simulator provided real-time visual feedback and proportional haptic resistance to represent changes in gas behavior. Thirty-nine undergraduate engineering students interacted with the simulator in controlled laboratory sessions. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate students' perceptions, combining the End-User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) survey with semi-structured interviews.ResultsSurvey results indicated high levels of satisfaction in the dimensions of accuracy, ease of use, and timeliness, reflecting students' confidence in the simulator's responsiveness and reliability. Qualitative findings revealed strong engagement and motivation, with participants reporting that tactile feedback helped them intuitively understand the inverse relationship between pressure and volume. Some usability challenges related to interface layout were also identified.DiscussionThe findings suggest that visuo-haptic simulators can promote active engagement and support embodied understanding of abstract physics concepts by linking theoretical relationships to sensory experience. Students perceived the simulator as a valuable complement to traditional instruction and expressed interest in its application to other scientific topics. While learning outcomes were not directly measured, the results highlight the potential of visuo-haptic tools to enhance motivation and experiential learning in physics education. Future work will focus on assessing learning gains in classroom settings and extending the approach to additional thermodynamics concepts.