Publication Details
Title:
Perceptions and Preparedness: Exploring Teacher Educators' Views on Integrating Generative AI in Colleges of Education, Ghana.
Details:
Authors
Bismark Nyaaba Akanzire,Matthew Nyaaba,Macharious Nabang
Abstract
This rapid study investigates teacher educators’ perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in teacher education, conducted through a descriptive survey involving 55 teacher educators from two colleges of education. This involved a convenience sampling technique for data collection, and data analysis using Exploratory Factor Analysis to identify primary factors shaping perceptions and preparedness of GenAI integration. Key findings reveal a generally positive perception among the teacher educators, who recognize GenAI’s potential to support academic achievement, increase student engagement, and improve communication within teacher education settings. The findings further indicate that the teacher educators’ background factors, such as age, years of teaching experience, department, and college, do not significantly predict their perceptions of GenAI. Since none of these measured background factors were significant predictors, this suggests that training and resources for using GenAI should be broadly prioritized, accessible, and not heavily tailored to specific demographic groups. However, the study identified significant concerns within the Barriers and Challenges factor, including ethical issues, fairness in student assessment, and possible adverse effects on the teacher educator-student relationship. The Communication and Independence factor underscored a strong need for professional development, with teacher educators emphasizing the importance of training in GenAI usage to optimize its educational potential. The study concludes that while teacher educators generally support GenAI’s potential benefits, there are essential ethical and practical challenges to address. Recommendations include establishing clear policies and guidelines to guide GenAI implementation and ensure ethical usage. We further recommend the expansion of this research with a larger sample to gather comprehensive insights from the teacher educators and their acceptance levels of GenAI.
Keywords: Preparedness, Teacher Educators, Ghana., Generative AI, Perception, Preparedness, AI