Chapter 15: AI-Driven Smart Classroom Innovation and Creative Thinking Skills: Review of Implementing STEM Programme

Technological advancements in education have significantly transformed smart classrooms. This study offers a comprehensive review of smart classrooms, focusing on the role of information technology in integrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curricula and highlights the government’s and educational institutions’ interest in supporting student development. Consequently, it proposes a research paradigm illustrating how STEM education, combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI)–driven innovations in smart classrooms, can enhance students’ creative thinking skills. This chapter paves the way for understanding the evolution of the smart classroom’s role in achieving educational goals within STEM education. It aims to promote awareness about smart classrooms and the necessity of fostering innovative and effective instructional methods, high-quality educational content and technology integration that meets the diverse needs of students. The literature review thoroughly analyses the most relevant scholarly work on the topic, drawing from a substantial body of 412 publications spanning from 1934 to 2024. Notably, there is a scarcity of research on this subject in the Middle East. The findings indicate a growing student interest in the STEM curriculum, as it enhances their research abilities, inquiry skills and creative thinking. This chapter can serve as a valuable starting point for future research endeavours in innovative technology and smart classroom strategies by providing a broad overview of the relevant topics. Based on the conclusions drawn from this work, there is a clear need to encourage additional research to identify the determinants, antecedents, characteristics and practical applications of potential smart classroom innovations across various dimensions of education.