Using a Customised Chatbot to Facilitate Student Engagement in a Form III Physical Science Classroom · ICGS Research Library

Title

Using a Customised Chatbot to Facilitate Student Engagement in a Form III Physical Science Classroom

Author

Nikki Candy

Year Published

2026

Description

This action research project aimed to improve student engagement in a Physical Sciences classroom, as I had observed that students who engaged consistently with the content experienced higher levels of success. The project explored how a customised chatbot was used to facilitate student engagement in a Form III Physical Science classroom. A class of 22 girls used the chatbot during chemistry lessons and then had the option of continuing its use for the remainder of the chemistry section. Based on students’ feedback, a second customised chatbot was deployed for the lessons on equations of motion, after which the girls had the option of continuing to use the chatbot to prepare for the final examinations. Data collection techniques included surveys, classroom observations, interviews, and chat histories between the girls and the customised chatbot. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data and, where possible, correlations were made with existing literature. The key findings include the effectiveness of the customised chatbot in facilitating the girls’ engagement and the advantage of a platform that is immediate and accessible. The findings also show areas in which the technology requires further development, as inaccuracies lead to misconceptions. Furthermore, the findings highlight the complex nature of social interactions within a classroom and between the girls and the chatbots. The findings from this study are valuable for educators hoping to incorporate a customised chatbot into their teaching, as they provide a balanced view of the potential and limitations of the technology.