The impact of AI usage and AI literacy on students learning engagement and creativity of accounting students in Chinese higher vocational colleges

Abstract

In the context of the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence, college students are increasingly applying AI platforms such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek to their learning practices, a behavior that has a profound impact on their learning methods and innovative abilities. However, there has been a lack of systematic exploration into the underlying mechanisms by which AI usage and AI literacy influence students' engagement and creativity. Therefore, this study aims to construct and validate a theoretical model with AI usage and AI literacy as independent variables and student engagement and creativity as dependent variables. The study employed a quantitative method, collecting 295 valid responses covering variables such as AI usage frequency, AI literacy levels, learning engagement, and creativity. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted using SPSS. The results indicate that AI literacy has a significant positive impact on student engagement and creativity; AI usage enhances student engagement and interest; and AI usage and AI literacy focus more on stimulating thinking rather than producing works when enhancing creativity, which has important implications for educational assessment outcomes. This study not only enriches the theoretical framework of educational technology in the context of artificial intelligence but also provides practical references for universities in promoting AI literacy education and cultivating student creativity. The originality of this work lies in bridging the gap between AI adoption research and vocational education practice, offering context-specific insights that can guide curriculum reform and policy initiatives in China.