Artificial intelligence-assisted innovations in welding education

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Columbus State Community College $617,473 on October 1, 2026, to design and implement an artificial intelligence-assisted welding training system for hands-on education at community colleges.

Under the Advanced Technological Education Program (CFDA 47.076), Columbus State will develop adaptive AI-assisted instructional tools that provide real-time feedback during welding practice, establish an advisory committee on AI integration in welding education, conduct an AI impact assessment, and produce a training manual to support adoption of AI-assisted welding instruction. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of AI-enhanced training by examining student skill development, training outcomes, and workforce-relevant competencies through formal assessment of learning outcomes and implementation conditions in hands-on technical education.

The recipient will work in collaboration with education and industry partners to create a replicable model and knowledge base that can advance technician education nationwide, with particular focus on strengthening the nation's skilled technical workforce and preparing learners to meet modern welding industry demands.

Performance occurs at Columbus, Ohio, over the three-year period from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. The assistance type is a project grant.

Abstract

This project serves the national interest by promoting the progress of science by integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology into hands-on welding education. The significance of the project lies in its potential to strengthen the nation's skilled technical workforce. The project will enhance students' development of skills, improve training outcomes, and prepare learners to meet the evolving demands of the modern welding workforce. In collaboration with education and industry partners, the investigators will develop an AI-assisted welding training system, an advisory committee on AI integration in welding education, an AI impact assessment, and a training manual to support the adoption of AI-assisted welding instruction at community colleges. The project will provide a replicable model and knowledge that can advance technician education nationwide. The goal of the project is to transform welding education by integrating AI-assisted training systems to enhance instructional effectiveness, improve students' development of skills, and produce a highly competent, industry-ready workforce. The scope includes the design, implementation, and evaluation of AI-assisted instructional tools that provide adaptive feedback during welding practice. The project will study the effectiveness of AI-enhanced training by examining students' development of skills, training outcomes, and workforce-relevant competencies. A formal evaluation will assess project implementation, measure learning outcomes, and investigate conditions under which improved student learning occurs in hands-on technical education. Findings will advance understanding of how emerging technologies can be integrated into training in skilled trades and will contribute new knowledge about AI-supported learning in technician education. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program, which focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.