The Role of AI-Based Learning Systems in Enhancing Biology Education for Secondary School Students: Impact on Performance, Engagement, and Retention

The paper examined the Role of AI-Based Learning Systems in Enhancing Biology Education for NCE Students: Impact on Performance, Engagement, and Retention. The paper sets four objectives, four research questions and four hypotheses. The population of the study is made up of over 320 school teachers in the 40 registered secondary schools in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The research randomly selected 5 schools for the study and 10 teachers and 20 students were randomly selected from each of the schools making a total of 150 teachers and students for the study. The research instrument used in this study was a self-constructed questionnaire designed to collect data and responses from the teachers in secondary schools in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State regarding their opinions in giving information concerning the items in the questionnaire. 179 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents personally by the researchers in the sampled schools of the study area. These results were placed on a Likert four-point rating scale; 4= Strongly Agree (SA), 3= Agree (A) 2= Disagree (D), 1= Strongly Disagree (SD). The split half and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient were used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The result of the pilot test produced an index of 0.78 which was adequate to consider the instrument reliable for the study. Statistical Package for Social Science version 27 was used to analyse the data collected. A decision rule was reached that a mean score of 2.50 and above falls under Agreed while below 2.50 falls under Disagreed. The first finding revealed that the result of the study accepted that students who use AI-based learning systems will have a significantly better understanding and retention of biology concepts compared to those who do not with a mean difference of 2.89, t value of 8.448821 and P value of 0.0001. The second finding revealed that the use of AI-based learning systems will lead to a significant improvement in students' academic performance in biology with a mean difference of 3.03, t value of 7.561322 and P value of 0.0001. The third finding revealed that AI-based learning systems will significantly enhance student engagement and motivation in learning biology with a mean difference of 3.26, t value of 6.639 and P value of 0.0001. The fourth finding revealed that students using AI-based learning systems will outperform those using traditional learning methods in biology assessments with a mean difference of 1.07, t value of 5.439 and P value of 0.0001. The study recommends that AI should be used by teachers to boost students' motivation towards their studies. This can be achieved through engaging learning mechanisms that make studying more appealing and teachers should be encouraged to use AI to identify students who are struggling and provide necessary interventions to support their academic growth.