Abstract
In the extant literature, no known research, especially within Sub-Saharan Africa (especially in Nigeria), has considered how economically marginalised students navigate this era of AI-infested learning, nor how their socioeconomic status, given these AI-driven technologies, impacts their motivation and engagement in physical education programmes. This study investigated the influence of artificial intelligence-driven feedback on the motivation and engagement of economically marginalised students in physical fitness classes at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the research examined how Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven feedback using video recordings enhances students’ learning experiences and participation in physical fitness classes. The study population comprised 551 students enrolled in Human Kinetics and Health Education programmes at the sampled university, and a census approach was employed. Data were collected using a validated and reliable questionnaire titled Artificial Intelligence-Driven Feedback in Physical Fitness Classes Questionnaire (AIFPFQ), with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.87. The descriptive and inferential statistics of correlation and regression analyses were employed for data analysis at a 0.05 significance level. The results revealed that economically marginalised students held highly positive perceptions of AI-driven feedback, recognizing its role in improving understanding, performance, and interest in fitness sessions. Findings further indicated that AI-driven feedback significantly enhanced the economically marginalised students’ motivation and engagement, with motivation showing a stronger association with AI-based feedback than engagement. Moreover, a strong positive relationship was observed between motivation and engagement, underscoring the reciprocal link between intrinsic drive and active participation in fitness learning.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Engagement, Feedback, Motivation, Nigeria, Physical Fitness Classes.