ENHANCING STUDENTS’ RESEARCH TRAINING THROUGH AN AI-SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM

Abstract

The increasing emphasis on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education highlights its potential in improving the quality of students' preparation for research activities. In the university environment, there is a significant gap between theoretical knowledge of research methods and practical skills in their application. The present study, conducted as part of the work with students of pedagogical and technical specialties, was aimed at bridging this gap by creating and implementing an AI-supported educational platform focused on the development of research literacy. Using a descriptive research design, the project aimed to develop and test a comprehensive digital platform capable of enhancing students' research planning, execution, and analysis competencies.  Preliminary diagnostics revealed students' superficial knowledge of key stages of scientific research, as well as a limited understanding of the capabilities of modern AI tools, which emphasized the need for targeted digital training. The developed platform included modules based on AI algorithms: intelligent hints for formulating hypotheses, automated data analysis, generators of research plans, recommendations on the choice of methods and visualization tools. The training elements were accompanied by interactive tasks, case studies, simulators, and workshops on the use of AI in research. The results of the final assessment showed a significant improvement in students' research skills: from the basic level to confident and independent work with AI tools for data analysis and research design. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness of the implemented platform in the development of research literacy. In conclusion, the study recommends systematizing the processes of digital student training, expanding the functionality of the platform through advanced AI models, and using a variety of learning formats to sustainably improve the quality of training for future researchers.