UTILISATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION: THE PERCEPTION OF UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LECTURERS

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one rapidly expanding field of knowledge that has the potential to drastically modify traditional methods across industries, including the academic sector, and the likelihood of it causing major changes means that we all must increasingly be prepared. Therefore, this study investigated how University of Ibadan lecturers perceive the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Nigerian educational system. The survey method was adopted for the study and the purposive sampling technique was used to sample members of academic staff in the university. Data were collected from 97 lecturers, using a questionnaire titled “Lecturers' Perception of AI in Education (LPAIEd)” which had a reliability value of r = 0.82. Results showed that lecturers’ perception of AI in education is highly positive. While there are no doubts about the immense benefits that AI could bring to the field of education, this study showed that some lecturers have some reservations towards its adoption. However, it was also revealed that lecturers are completely willing to adopt AI in education, regardless of their reservations. In light of these findings, it was recommended that training and orientation programmes be organised for lecturers to aid better understanding of the possibilities of AI, while also ensuring that higher institutions of learning are more equipped with modern technologies as this will help lecturers to gradually eliminate unease and foster confidence and competence in their use of technology.