AI-assisted instruction using chatbots is gaining popularity in writing courses. Learners in writing classes can leverage AI chatbots as dynamic resources of revision assistance, advice, information and insight to enhance different aspects of writing skill in areas such as style, grammar, creativity, clarity, formatting, content and correctness. AI chatbots can serve learners as extra capacity or extensions for their mental capabilities. At a creative writing course for BA students of English language and literature at Ilam University, Iran, following a pre-test on creative writing given to 40 students, two randomly selected groups of 16 students formed two homogeneous classes. Both classes were identical in syllabus, length and frequency, while one enjoyed AI-assisted instruction through students’ guided use of ChatGPT and Google Gemini to develop different facets and elements of writing skill. After completion of the course, students’ essays were given to a group of nine raters for rating, based on an independently developed rubric derived from the syllabus. The rating results showed that students in the class with AI- assisted instruction outperformed the other class, confirming the effectiveness of AI-assisted instruction. When asked to describe their experiences in details, students in the AI-assisted class reported positive impact, pleasant experience, complementary effect of AI-chatbots, support from AI-chatbot responses allowing for focus on creativity and aesthetics, enhanced learning opportunities and expanded depth of instruction and training. Lower stress, improved confidence and higher interest and motivation were also reported by the students. Application of AI chatbots in writing instruction can foster better learning and create a supporting platform for creative mental activity. Further research in different and diverse contexts, with larger samples and use of other AI tools and solutions is recommended. Investigating the utilization of AI-powered tools in instruction of different language skills, subskills, components and subcomponents is called for.
