The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has sparked interest in the role of Human-AI (HAI) interaction in design thinking in STEM classrooms. This study uses a Bibliometric–Systematic Review to analyse the trends, theoretical frameworks, AI-related concepts, journal and country contributions, 21st-century skills associated with HAI interaction, and the pedagogical implications of integrating HAI into design thinking. The study involves 128 peer-reviewed articles published between 2006 and 2026, retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The study used a parallel, convergent mixed-methods design and was guided by PRISMA 2020 protocols. We used the VOSviewer and Biblioshiny and included 21 studies in our in-depth qualitative review. The study draws on HAI interaction theory, constructionism, and AI-augmented design thinking to infer that AI is a co‑creative partner that can scaffold learners’ ideation and iteration. We found that while the most frequently occurring AI-related concepts are adaptive feedback, natural language processing, AI-supported design thinking, machine learning, and generative AI, the number of publications has increased after 2016. Most of the literature was obtained from technology and educational journals, while the authors were mostly from North America, Europe, and Asia. The most theoretically grounded frameworks are the HAI frameworks and constructivist theories. Findings show that most studies link HAI-enhanced design thinking to improved problem-solving, collaborative skills, creativity, and innovation. We recommend ethical AI use in STEM classrooms, teacher professional development in HAI-supported design thinking, and expanding research on underrepresented regions to ensure global perspectives on AI-enabled STEM innovation.

Authors:
Maria Tsakeni, University of the Free State, South Africa
Stephen Chinedu Nwafor, University of the Free State, South Africa
Moeketsi Tlali, University of the Free State, South Africa
Loyiso Jita, University of the Free State, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Maria Tsakeni is an Associate Professor and Head of the Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology Education Department in the Faculty of Education at the University of The Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-tsakeni-31318374/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

Bookmark