Survey: 90% of Educators See AI as a Beacon for More Accessible Education

Digital curriculum provider Imagine Learning, in a new survey of K–12 educators’ perceptions and uses of generative AI, found that 90% of respondents believe the technology has the potential to make education more accessible for students who need personalized learning methods.

The 2023 Educator AI Report: Perceptions, Practices, and Potential research comprised a digital survey of educators belonging to Imagine Learning's Teachers' Lounge professional community; it was conducted between August 25 and September 8, 2023, and 69% of respondents were teachers, followed by 19% administrators, and 12% support staff, the company said.

a graphic shows educators' responses when asked what types of work they are using generative AI tools for

Although respondents were overwhelmingly optimistic about the potential for AI to equalize learning opportunities for learners of all kinds, a nearly equal majority reported feeling unprepared to oversee the use of generative AI in their classrooms. Only 15% of respondents said they feel prepared to do so.

Teachers were more likely to consider embracing the technology than were district and school leaders participating in the survey, Imagine Learning said. Just one-third of respodents said they have leadership support to successfully implement generative AI into their teaching.

A bar graph shows educators' responses when asked in a survey about their level of familiarity with generative Ai tools

Other key findings include:

  • 44% of respondents who said they’ve used generative AI reported that it “has alleviated the burden of their workload and made their jobs easier”

  • Of the respondents who haven’t yet used AI in the classroom, 65% cited a lack of familiarity as the primary reason; 48% also expressed ethical concerns

  • 72% of respondents said their biggest concern about generative AI is the potential for more plagiarism and cheating

  • A third of respondents said they are using AI in classrooms to craft assessments, develop lesson plans, create instructional content, and for grading.

  • 60% of educators surveyed were concerned that AI will “negatively impact students’ independent thinking, writing, and research skills”

Learn more and download the full report at ImagineLearning.com.

 

About the Author

Kristal Kuykendall is editor, 1105 Media Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].


Featured

  • Neon blue security locks with a single red highlight

    With AI, Cybersecurity Focus Shifts from Finding Flaws to Fixing Them

    For decades, one of cybersecurity's biggest challenges has been finding vulnerabilities before attackers do. A growing number of security professionals now say artificial intelligence is changing that equation, shifting the focus from discovering flaws to fixing them quickly enough to prevent exploitation.

  • Engineering team implements digital guardrails on AI

    3 Starting Points for Integrating AI Guardrails in K-12 Districts

    As education leaders start to craft an AI policy that is both practical and flexible enough to evolve with this fast-changing technology, there is at least one principle that should be foundational: AI should serve to augment human critical thinking and creativity but never replace human interaction and decision-making.

  • interconnected blue glass cubes

    Anthropic Expands Enterprise Deployment Options for Claude Desktop

    Anthropic is introducing new enterprise deployment options for Claude Desktop, saying organizations that use the app through Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Foundry can now access the full desktop experience across chat, Claude Cowork, and Claude Code.

  • Top View Shot in Elementary School Computer Science Classroom

    Education's Top 5 Technology Priorities and the Challenges Standing in the Way

    Cybersecurity ranks as the No. 1 priority for education technology leaders in the United States, according to the latest State of Ed Tech report from CoSN, yet insufficient cybersecurity staffing and the lack of a dedicated budget are key barriers.