Public defence in New Media, MSc Jeongki Lim

Title of the thesis: Creative Learning Agents: Computational Co-Creativity and Relational Artifacts in Education

Thesis defender: Jeongki Lim
Opponent: Associate Professor Daniel Spikol, University of Copenhagen 
Custos: Professor Teemu Leinonen,Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Creativity, as the ability to develop new and useful ideas and solutions, is considered an important learning outcome of 21st-century education. With recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) research, many educators are interested in incorporating AI applications into arts and design education. This research examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing creative capacity development within arts and design education, while critically evaluating the risks associated with automating learning activities and their pedagogical implications. The thesis aims to develop theoretical and conceptual models that enable educators to meaningfully integrate AI into their classrooms without diminishing students’ creative development. 

This work contributes to current debates on AI integration in education by offering a perspective that frames AI as a relational artifact, not just a tool for content generation, but also as a participant in the classroom. Through three original mixed-method experimental studies, the research found that AI can positively influence creative engagement when situated as a peer-like presence. It also showed that while AI increased associative actions related to creativity, it remained less effective than human peers due to differing objectives. 

The thesis introduces two contributions. The Creative Learning Activity System is a theoretical framework for applying AI not as a tool but as an autonomous and relational agent in educational environments. The Creative Learning Agent is a conceptual AI model designed to enhance creativity in academic and industrial settings. These results have practical implications for curriculum design and broader educational strategies that seek to meaningfully integrate AI without undermining creativity. The study concludes that for AI to support creative learning, it must be designed with relational and pedagogical intent.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Creative Learning, Activity Theory, Relational Dynamics, Education

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at Aaltodoc. 

Contact information: 

www.linkedin.com/in/jeongkilim