CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: INTEGRATING AI-CHATBOTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FROM STUDENTS' AND INSTRUCTORS' PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Environmental education faces challenges such as low student engagement, teacher-centered instructional models, and a lack of practical, situated learning. These traditional methods often fail to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, leading to a superficial understanding of environmental issues and diminished student motivation. As environmental sustainability becomes a global priority, innovative educational approaches are needed to promote environmental literacy effectively. This study explores the potential of AI-chatbots to address these challenges by enhancing learning engagement, creating personalized experiences, and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Data was collected through face-to-face and email interviews with eight environmental studies students from freshman to senior year and five expert teachers in Environmental Science, Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence. Thematic and content analyses revealed five major challenges in traditional environmental education: lack of environmental knowledge, teacher-centered instruction, insufficient situated learning, low engagement, and limited teacher-student interaction. AI-chatbots have been identified as promising tools for addressing these issues. However, expert teachers recommend using AI as a supplementary tool to traditional methods, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to avoid over-reliance and misuse.