Deploying Multidisciplinary AI-Personas to Enhance Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in STEM Education

Authors

  • Liezl van Dyk North-West University
  • Roelof Burger North-West University
  • Jacoba Bührmann North-West University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54337/irspbl-11063

Keywords:

AI personas, Critical thinking, Engineering education, Decision-making, Student engagement

Abstract

This paper explores the integration of multidisciplinary AI personas as educational tools to enhance critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills in STEM education. Drawing from two case studies at the North-West University, South Africa, students engaged with AI personas representing varied disciplinary perspectives in Decision Science and Environmental Science modules. In the first case, students applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to a business acquisition scenario, relying on AI personas to provide comparative input on decision criteria. The second case involved reflective essays on environmental worldviews, where students interacted with personas representing distinct ecological perspectives. It is concluded that AI personas across multiple disciplines can potentially enhance STEM students’ critical thinking, engagement, and professional skills, provided their use is paired with structured methodological guidance and real-time instructional support. Keywords: AI personas, critical thinking, engineering education, decision-making, student engagement.

References

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Front cover for the proceedings of the 10th International Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning. With the title "Anchoring conversations (IRSPBL 2025)

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Published

14-11-2025

How to Cite

van Dyk, L., Burger, R., & Bührmann, J. (2025). Deploying Multidisciplinary AI-Personas to Enhance Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in STEM Education . Proceedings from the International Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning (IRSPBL). https://doi.org/10.54337/irspbl-11063

Issue

2025: 10th International Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning (IRSPBL 2025)

Section

Theme 3: Technology, AI, and Digital Learning in STEM Education

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.