Educators’ Perception of Artificial Intelligence as Instructional Tool

With artificial intelligence technologies disrupting status quo of many technologically advanced national economies, educators should face the challenge to harness their potentials without risks to learners. This exploratory mixed-method study aims to add to the growing volume of research that focuses on educators’ attitude towards AI, their views on its applicability in education and necessity to develop AI competences. The research involved 132 in-service and pre-service educators who completed a questionnaire; nine of the participants also took part in follow-up interviews. The results revealed that the majority of educators perceive AI as a promising and useful tool, albeit sometimes complex, risky and not very smart. Most educators report low level of competence and infrequent usage of AI but readiness to undergo training. The research findings speak for the urgent need to design and implement professional development and teacher training courses that debunk myths about AI and build practical skills for applying AI affordances in all levels of education.