The University of Oklahoma has received a $150,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to investigate how generative AI can be effectively integrated into children’s maker-based learning in public libraries.
The project, “Gauging Library Needs for Integrating Generative AI into Children’s Maker-Based Learning,” is led by Dr. Jiqun Liu (PI) and Dr. Yong Ju Jung (Co-PI) from the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS).
This project builds on OU’s DISC Summer AI Pilot initiative and brings together expertise in human-AI interaction, library science, and education. The team will study how large language models (LLMs) can enhance hands-on STEM+C learning experiences while supporting librarians and educators with new training resources, instructional materials, and AI-supported learning tools. The research aims to advance children’s AI literacy and strengthen libraries’ roles as accessible, equitable learning spaces for the next generation of innovators.
The project reflects SLIS’s growing leadership in human-centered information systems and AI research and its commitment to bridging information, technology, and education. It also reinforces the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences’ strategic emphasis on interdisciplinary scholarship and community impact. Through this grant, OU continues to expand its national presence in responsible and innovative AI research for education and public engagement.
