{"id":734,"date":"2026-09-09T21:31:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T21:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/?page_id=734"},"modified":"2026-10-26T14:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T18:32:12","slug":"career","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/?page_id=734","title":{"rendered":"NSF CAREER"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ACT-GenAI: Advancing Creative Thinking, Physics Learning,<\/strong> <strong>and AI Literacy through <em>Little c<\/em>, a Generative AI Coach in a Sandbox Learning Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:30px;background-color:#e3e9f1;color:#e3e9f1\"\/>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id734_e19088-41 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column734_bf2e7a-cb\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-30449e6a wp-block-paragraph\">ACT-GenAI integrates two core components: (1) <em>a research strand<\/em> focused on developing and validating <em>Little c<\/em> to advance student and research outcomes; and (2) <em>an educational strand<\/em> that engages diverse stakeholders through interactive activities to broaden projects\u2019 impact beyond the immediate research context. This project supports students\u2019 figural (visual) and verbal (language-based) creativity as students design physics-based game levels\u2014skills that are both measurable and transferable to broader STEM contexts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column734_61030b-da{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column734_61030b-da{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column734_61030b-da{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column734_61030b-da{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column734_61030b-da{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column734_61030b-da{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column734_61030b-da{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column734_61030b-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column734_61030b-da\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1550\" height=\"1550\" src=\"https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-927\" style=\"width:239px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1.png 1550w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-edited-1-1536x1536.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1550px) 100vw, 1550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:30px;background-color:#e3e9f1;color:#e3e9f1\"\/>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id734_2ccab2-36 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column734_b5b73d-d9\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Little c<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little c is an AI-powered coach in a sandbox learning environment where students create, test, and revise physics-based designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little c will access students&#8217; creative work and provide personalized support for generating ideas, improving designs, learning physics, and developing AI literacy. Working with students students and teachers, this research will investigate how AI can support learning while keeping students engaged in the cognitive work that matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"><strong>Lead<\/strong>: Dr. Seyedahmad Rahimi<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"><strong>Sponsor<\/strong>: NSF CAREER Award<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"><strong>Funding:<\/strong>&nbsp;$1,665,900<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"><strong>Duration:<\/strong>&nbsp;2026-2031<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.41.38-PM-1024x550.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1180\" style=\"width:339px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.41.38-PM-1024x550.png 1024w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.41.38-PM-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.41.38-PM-767x412.png 767w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.41.38-PM-1536x825.png 1536w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.41.38-PM.png 2006w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column734_563b42-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column734_563b42-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column734_563b42-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column734_563b42-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column734_563b42-8f{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column734_563b42-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column734_563b42-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column734_563b42-8f\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>(Y1):How should an AI-powered agent (<em>Little c<\/em>) be designed to assess creativity and provide targeted supports for creativity, physics literacy, and AI literacy in a sandbox game?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(Y1\u3001Y2\u3001Y3):To what extent can GPT-4o (or an improved version; e.g., GPT-5 which is going to be released in summer 2025), enhanced by retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and fine-tuning, produce valid estimates of creativity?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(Y2\u3001Y3):To what extent do students find the prototype of <em>Little c<\/em> useful and usable during level creation? What are their suggestions for improvement?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(Y4\u3001Y5):What are the effects of <em>Little c<\/em> (with creativity assessment and tailored supports) on students&#8217; creativity, creativity self-efficacy, interest in physics, physics learning, and AI literacy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(Y4\u3001Y5):How do students interact with <em>Little c<\/em>, and which types of interactions (e.g., asking for ideas, viewing examples, receiving feedback) lead to improvements in creativity, physics learning, and AI literacy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template has-small-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-513 publication type-publication status-publish hentry associated-project-productivemath publication-year-11\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-14T19:27:33-04:00\"><\/time><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\"> <\/p><\/div>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2520\" height=\"1064\" src=\"https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1.png 2520w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1-767x324.png 767w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1-2048x865.png 2048w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1-1536x649.png 1536w, https:\/\/classlab.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-22-at-1.40.24-PM-1-1024x432.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2520px) 100vw, 2520px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ACT-GenAI: Advancing Creative Thinking, Physics Learning, and AI Literacy through Little c, a Generative AI Coach in a Sandbox Learning Environment ACT-GenAI integrates two core components: (1) a research strand focused on developing and validating Little c to advance student and research outcomes; and (2) an educational strand that engages diverse stakeholders through interactive activities [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-734","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=734"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1216,"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734\/revisions\/1216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/classlab.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}