The main goal of the study was to explore online K-12 teachers' perceptions of students' AI utilization and to understand teachers' outlook on the future of online education in the context of AI.
Methods: The study employed a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups. A survey was conducted with 64 high school teachers from a large public virtual school in the United States. Additionally, five focus groups with 15 middle and high school teachers were facilitated using Zoom. Thematic analysis was conducted using AI tools to analyze focus group transcripts.
Key Findings:
- A majority of teachers (70%) are familiar with AI tools, and many use them regularly in their virtual classrooms.
- Teachers' familiarity with AI directly influences their adoption of AI tools, but there is no significant relationship between beliefs about AI's benefits and its usage.
- Teachers recognize AI's potential to enhance personalized learning, student engagement, and problem-solving skills.
- Concerns about fairness, privacy, and security were prevalent among teachers regarding students' use of AI.
Implications: The findings highlight the importance of teacher training and awareness for effectively integrating AI into online education. The study suggests that while teachers are optimistic about AI's transformative potential, successful implementation requires addressing concerns about privacy and fairness.
Limitations: The study's limitations include a relatively small sample size and diversity, reliance on self-reported data, lack of a control group, and focus on teachers' perceptions without considering students' perspectives.
Future Directions: Future research should focus on specific professional development needs for AI integration, explore AI's impact on different subjects or grade levels, and involve larger and more diverse samples. Longitudinal studies could provide insights into the long-term effects of AI in online K-12 education.
Title and Authors: "Online K-12 Teachers’ Perceptions of Students’ AI Utilization and Teachers' Outlook on the Future of Education in the Context of Artificial Intelligence" by Kyle Doty and Lodi Lipien.
Published On: September 2024
Published By: American Journal of Educational Research