AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF CHATGPT AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) BICHI

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the awareness and utilization of ChatGPT, a state-of-the-art AI-powered language model, among academic staff of the Federal College of Education (technical) Bichi, where the academic landscape is evolving to embrace innovative teaching and learning methods. The aim is to determine, among others, the extent of awareness and usage of ChatGPT among the academic staff, and to assess the level of adoption and integration of ChatGPT within the educational processes. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing surveys to gather data. A representative sample of two three hundred  and ten (310) academic personnel was purposively drawn from the six schools (i.e., schools of secondary education: Science, Technical, Vocational, Business, Education, Primary and Early Childhood Care) of the College for the study. A fifteen (15)-items questionnaire was analyzed using simple percentages. The findings revealed that 68% of the respondents demonstrated awareness of ChatGPT while 32% currently made practical use of it often. Further analysis from interviews affirms that factors such as familiarity with AI technologies, training opportunities, and perceived benefits played pivotal roles in influencing the adoption rate. Challenges including technological infrastructure, concerns about AI's impact on traditional teaching methods, and the need for tailored professional development were identified as barriers to wider integration. Recommendations among others include the development of targeted training programs, fostering collaboration between AI specialists and educators, and creating conducive environment for technological innovation among the Federal Colleges of Educations in Nigeria.