AI-Assisted Academic Achievement: Advancing Student Success in Systems Engineering Certification

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to leverage AI generated content to improve student outcomes in a graduate Systems Engineering course at Wichita State University's College of Engineering.The goal was to enhance student performance by progressively increasing the difficulty of formal course assessments.BACKGROUND: The course, conducted in Summer 2024, included 46 graduate students, and focused on preparing them for the INCOSE Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) certification.AI, specifically ChatGPT, was used to generate certification-style questions for course assessments, including quizzes and exams. METHODS:The 8-week course featured 8 quizzes and 2 exams, with AI-generated questions designed to mimic the format and difficulty of the INCOSE ASEP certification.The quizzes and exams were structured to progressively increase in difficulty, targeting an average performance of 85%. RESULTS:The use of AI to create content for both quiz and exam questions resulted in a measurable improvement in student performance.The progressive difficulty ensured that students remained challenged and engaged throughout the course. CONCLUSIONS:Integrating AI to tailor quiz and exam difficulty significantly improved student outcomes in the graduate Systems Engineering course.The approach not only prepared students for the speed and difficulty of certification exams but also enhanced their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.