Can Gen AI Improve Low-Performance Students’ Creativity? A Quasi-Experimental Study Based on Chinese Samples

• In Event: Human–AI Collaboration for Enhanced Interaction, collaboration and creativity

Abstract

As Gen AI becomes increasingly integrated into education, little empirical research has explored its impact on creativity. Present study focused on Chinese students in secondary vocational schools, a group representing the bottom 50% in academic performance at the end of 9th grade studies. This study aimed to answer whether Gen AI, or Gen AI together with teachers providing structured support, can promote these students' creativity development. A 12-week quasi-experimental study involving 75 students showed that while Gen AI alone improved internal psychological perception, it didn't significantly enhance creativity performance. Only when combined with teacher-led structured support did Gen AI significantly improve all creativity dimensions (fluency, flexibility, elaboration, originality), suggesting that structured support is essential for creativity development in low-performance learners.

Authors

• Yiran Cui, Shandong University

• Meng Li, China National Academy of Educational Sciences