AI Literacy and Anxiety in Teacher Education: New Study Sheds Light on the Impact of AI Tools on Educators

Strategic Insights -

A new study has shed light on the impact of AI tools on teacher education, revealing that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are reshaping educational practice, but first-year teacher-education students often lack the skills and confidence to use them responsibly. The study, conducted by researchers at the Industrial Engineering School, found that a concise three-session clinic on prompt engineering can boost AI literacy and reduce technology anxiety in prospective teachers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 45 freshmen in a Peruvian teacher-education program who completed validated Spanish versions of a 12-item AI-literacy scale and a 12-item technology-anxiety scale before and after the intervention.
  • The participants showed a significant increase in AI literacy, with a mean gain of 0.70 ± 0.46 points (t(44) = -6.10, p < 0.001).
  • The study found a significant negative correlation between AI literacy and technology anxiety (r = -0.52, p < 0.001).
  • The researchers concluded that integrating micro-level prompt-engineering clinics in the first semester can help future teachers engage critically and comfortably with generative AI.
  • The study suggests that teacher-training programs should update their curricula to include AI literacy and prompt engineering skills.

Statistics:

  • 45 freshmen in a Peruvian teacher-education program participated in the study.
  • The participants showed a significant increase in AI literacy, with a mean gain of 0.70 ± 0.46 points.
  • The study found a significant negative correlation between AI literacy and technology anxiety (r = -0.52, p < 0.001).
  • The researchers used paired-samples t-tests, Cohen's d, and Pearson correlations to analyze the data.

Sources:

  • "Brief Prompt-Engineering Clinic Substantially Improves AI Literacy and Reduces Technology Anxiety in First-Year Teacher-Education Students: A Pre-Post Pilot Study." Education Sciences, 2025, 15(8), 1010. (MDPI AG)
  • "Research on Anxiety Disorders Detailed by Researchers at Industrial Engineering School (Brief Prompt-Engineering Clinic Substantially Improves AI Literacy and Reduces Technology Anxiety in First-Year Teacher-Education Students: A Pre-Post Pilot Study)." Health & Medicine Week. September 12, 2025, p 5370.