Postgraduate Student Teachers’ Perspectives Concerning AI and Its Integration into STEAM Teaching and Learning
摘要
The ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education emerging as a particularly promising area for its integration. European University Cyprus offers an at-distance postgraduate course “Applications of New Technologies in STEAM Education,” which includes a dedicated module “AI in STEAM Education.” The module combines asynchronous learning, online materials, and synchronous sessions to engage postgraduate students—both pre-service and in-service teachers— with core AI concepts, ethical considerations, and practical pedagogical applications. Its aim is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively integrate AI into STEAM curricula, while also deepening their understanding of AI’s dual role in education: its transformative potential and the need for careful, ethical integration. The chapter outlines the module content and structure and presents the results of an online post-survey study, which explored participants’ (n = 75) experiences from the module and perceptions of AI and the use of AI-based educational applications in STEAM education. Few studies have specifically explored postgraduate teachers’ perspectives within such a dedicated module, making this research especially valuable. The results indicate strong enthusiasm for AI’s transformative educational potential, tempered by concerns about ethical issues, the need for teacher training, and the readiness of educational institutions in terms of infrastructure. Findings underscore how a well-designed curriculum can empower educators with essential skills and ethical awareness, offering insights for developing similar programs and advancing the field, while also emphasizing the need for further research on the methodological integration of AI in education.