Artificial Intelligence Readiness, AI Literacy and Responsible AI Use among Pre-Service and In-Service Teachers in Pakistan

Abstract

As AI is increasingly being adopted in the educational sector, this study aimed to explore the extent of teacher preservice and in service teacher AI readiness, AI literacy and the responsible use of AI. Data were collected by using a quantitative design using a structured questionnaire with 450 respondents of pre-service students of teacher training programs and 200 in-service teachers in public and private schools. The findings from descriptive analysis showed that the AI readiness of both pre and in service teachers was in the moderate category in terms of familiarity with the concept of AI and implementation in the classroom.The results of descriptive analysis for both pre and in service teachers both had moderate levels of AI readiness which indicated that in service teachers had some higher awareness with implications to the classroom, but with low technical competency and pre service teachers had higher awareness but low with the concept of AI. The findings of the AI literacy scores highlighted significant deficits in DE and AB, as well as in the pedagogical application of AI, pointing to the need for systematic training. AI readiness and AI literacy were positively correlated with responsible use of AI, especially when it came to issues of equity, privacy of data, and using AI in the classroom with an ethical approach. They found that AI literacy was significantly linked to the responsible use of AI (β = .42, p < .001), and teachers' preparedness for using AI tools was significantly linked with their confidence in using AI tools (β = .36, p < .01) based on the results of the inferential analysis. Comparisons revealed differences between the preservice and in service groups with a need for preservice teachers to experience practical experiences and in service teachers to be given structured professional development. The study highlights the need for teacher education institutions to integrate AI literacy into their programs and offer ongoing professional development to foster its responsible usage within the implementation of AI technologies in education in Pakistan.