Merging AI insights with Rubric Precision in Technical Writing

English Language Education

This compelling study investigates the remarkable synergy of structured rubrics and AI-generated feedback, particularly from ChatGPT, in significantly boosting the technical writing capabilities of fourth-year Civil Engineering students at North Eastern Mindanao State University–Bislig Campus. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational design, this groundbreaking research delves into how these innovative feedback mechanisms influence crucial aspects of technical writing: clarity, organization, grammar adherence, fluency, and critical thinking. This study rigorously assesses the impact of rubric-guided peer assessment and AI-generated insights in enhancing student performance. A remarkable cohort of 60 students participated, split into two dynamic groups—one receiving invaluable peer feedback via structured rubrics and the other benefiting from ChatGPT-generated insights. Data was meticulously gathered through pre-tests, post-tests, rubrics, and surveys, and analyzed using robust statistical tools, including ANCOVA and descriptive statistics. Results demonstrated that students who engaged with both structured rubrics and AI feedback experienced remarkable enhancements in their technical writing abilities, with the AI-feedback group showcasing exceptionally high improvements in clarity, grammar, and fluency. Nevertheless, the successful utilization of this feedback was largely contingent on students’ capacity to interpret and implement the suggestions. The findings strongly advocate incorporating rubrics and AI-driven feedback systems in technical writing education. The study emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in enriching traditional feedback methods and proposes effective instructional strategies that empower educators to elevate writing instruction for engineering students. It concludes by recommending targeted interventions aimed at further amplifying writing instruction through a blended feedback approach.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.