Teachers and the Challenges of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Survey in Primary and Secondary Schools

Abstract

AI presenting innovative solutions to improve the student learning process and increase the effectiveness of teaching (AiEd). The objective is to promote the development of adaptive learning environments and develop flexible, teaching mediators (OECD, 2024). The training of teachers is essential starting from an analysis of their training needs and their knowledge and skills. In our sample - 396 teachers, primary and secondary  schools of Abruzzo Region -  the 43.4% maintain that AI can favor teaching, 47.1% indicate it is useful for the personalization of teaching and 40.2% talk about support for study activities. Faced with this, 35.1% of our sample declared that they did not have the right preparation for the use of AI, 66.9% said that they did not have a good knowledge of Machine Learning. Contradictions emerge which indicate that teachers not only are not clear about the applications of AI but not even about the distinction between the main types of it (ML; DL; NLP; CV). Priority is given to the urgency of improving education through teacher training courses.