THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES IN DEVELOPING MICROBIOME AND HEALTH LITERACY IN BIOLOGY EDUCATION

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has transformed educational practices and created new opportunities for enhancing scientific literacy among secondary school students. In biology education, AI tools provide personalized learning experiences, adaptive feedback, and interactive environments that facilitate the understanding of complex biological concepts. One of the emerging areas of biological science is microbiome research, which has become increasingly important due to its role in human health and disease prevention. Despite its significance, microbiome-related content remains insufficiently represented in secondary school curricula. Furthermore, limited research has explored how AI technologies can support the development of microbiome literacy and health literacy among school students. This study proposes a quasi-experimental research design aimed at investigating the effectiveness of AI-supported biology instruction in developing microbiome literacy and health literacy among Grade 11 students. The proposed intervention integrates generative AI tools, adaptive learning systems, and microbiome simulations into biology lessons. Data will be collected through pre-tests, post-tests, questionnaires, and interviews. The study is expected to contribute to educational innovation by providing evidence-based recommendations for integrating AI technologies into biology education and promoting students’ scientific and health-related competencies.