Research Article

AI TECHNOLOGIES AND LEARNING: TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS’ AWARENESS AND PERCEPTIONS OF AI: TO WHAT EXTENT ARE STUDENTS AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OF AI FOR LEARNING?

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the topic of the use of AI technologies for the purpose of learning. It presents the findings of a survey conducted on a sample of 95 university students, and aims to give answers to the following research questions: 1) To what extent are tertiary level students aware of the opportunities of AI technologies for learning?; and 2) How do they perceive the use of AI technologies as a means in the process of learning and to which purposes do they serve? Results have shown that the majority of the students are familiar and aware of different AI tools which can be used for learning in the education process. However, when it comes to how they perceive these technologies for the purpose of learning, results are rather unfavorable. Namely, most of the students believe that the use of AI tools is acceptable because it saves time and helps in preparing more creative assignments. In addition, some of them have the perception that AI tools are useful because they can help them to complete assignments with less effort, regardless of the fact that it may not lead to real quality learning and can cause difficulties in terms of academic dishonesty. In this regard, it can be argued that the higher education institutions should observe this issue more carefully and emphasize the need to influence students, for the purpose of helping and guiding them in understanding the real benefits of the use of AI tools in the process of learning and education in general.

Keywords

AI technologies AI tools learning academic dishonesty