Empirical Evaluation of an Ethical AI Framework for STEM Education

A Mixed-Methods Study of Privacy-Preserving Technologies and Learning Outcomes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/04054e51

Keywords:

artificial intelligence in education, federated learning, blockchain technology, educational ethics, STEM pedagogy, data privacy

Abstract

In this paper introduces a new ethical AI framework for undergraduate STEM courses, putting a strong focus on privacy, transparency, and accountability. 
Our study involved 412 students across three universities over two semesters. Rather than relying solely on quantitative data, we also collected direct narratives and experiences from instructors and students through in-depth interviews and focus groups.
The results clearly show that responsible design of AI not only does not reduce system performance, but also significantly improves student engagement (35%), instructor acceptance (78%), and the performance gap between students is reduced by 40%—all while maintaining the model’s predictive accuracy at 89%.
This research demonstrates that AI can be designed to be both technically robust and ethically committed.

Author Biography

  • Meysam Abedi, University of Eastern Finland

    Doctoral Researcher, School of Computing, University of Eastern Finland

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Published

2026-02-10

Issue

Section

AI in Education, Research, and Society

How to Cite

Abedi, M. (2026). Empirical Evaluation of an Ethical AI Framework for STEM Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Privacy-Preserving Technologies and Learning Outcomes. American Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.32674/04054e51