Game-Based Learning Can Enhance Students’ Understanding of AI Ethics

Abstract

As AI technologies advance and become more integrated into society, it is crucial for students to develop a strong understanding of AI ethics. However, interventions specifically targeting AI ethics are scarce, as are those using game-based learning in AI literacy education, presenting an opportunity to explore the potential of game-based learning for teaching AI ethics. In this paper, we report the results of a pilot study in which we investigated the usefulness of a game-based learning environment titled MediaWatch - AI Ethics. The game was designed to foster an understanding of AI ethics. The study was conducted with 40 Finnish 9th-grade students who played MediaWatch - AI Ethics for about ten minutes during the regular school day. Pre-and post-test measurements were used to assess changes in students’ understanding of AI ethics and epistemic curiosity, while in-game measurements were used to examine self-efficacy and epistemic curiosity during gameplay. The findings revealed that even a short duration of gameplay can positively influence students’ understanding of AI ethics, suggesting that game-based learning is a promising approach to AI ethics education. However, the game did not significantly impact students’ epistemic curiosity or self-efficacy. The results contribute to the discussion of approaches to foster AI literacy and encourage further exploration of game-based learning in AI ethics instruction.