Artificial intelligence and online educational creativity: a critical analysis and emerging perspectives

Resumen

Introduction: Student engagement and creativity are key factors in the success of online learning environments, yet sustaining both remains a challenge due to the high levels of autonomy and self-regulation required. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities to support engagement and foster creativity through adaptive and personalized learning systems.
Method: This study presents a systematic theoretical review of research published in the last decade on the use of AI to promote student engagement and creativity in online learning. Articles indexed in the Web of Science database were analyzed using bibliometric and content analysis to identify technological approaches, data resources, and engagement measurement methods.
Results: The findings indicate that AI is primarily implemented through machine learning models for engagement detection, multimodal data analysis, intelligent tutoring systems, and adaptive feedback mechanisms. Student engagement is commonly assessed using survey-based instruments, AI-driven recognition systems, and learning analytics derived from activity data. Creativity is mainly promoted through interactive, adaptive, and collaborative learning environments supported by AI technologies.

Discussion – Conclusions: The review highlights AI’s growing role in enhancing engagement and creativity in online learning while revealing persistent challenges related to data use, measurement consistency, and pedagogical integration. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to design effective AI-enhanced learning environments.