2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is no longer a futuristic concept. Educational technology companies are actively integrating AI into course management systems and student engagement platforms to enhance communication between learners and educators. Blackboard, one of the most widely used Learning Management Systems, has consistently adopted AI-driven features, including the recent addition of an AI conversation tool.
This study explores the application of the AI conversation tool to enhance the learning experience of 41 Architecture, Construction Management, and Civil Engineering students enrolled in a Building Systems course during the Spring 2025 semester. Building Systems courses play an important role in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) education by exposing students to multiple building systems including structural, HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems and improving their understanding of building design and construction.
In this experiment, the AI conversation tool enabled students to interact with AI personas, providing a more personalized and adaptive learning experience. At the end of the semester, a survey was conducted to gather student feedback, complemented by the instructor’s observations, to evaluate the effectiveness of AI conversations as a supplemental learning tool. The findings revealed promising potential for AI integration in large, multidisciplinary classrooms: the AI conversations delivered immediate feedback, supported personalized learning, and enhanced student engagement. Both students’ responses and the professor’s reflections suggest that AI-driven conversations could play a transformative role in advancing AEC education in the future.