Student Perceptions and Attitudes About the Usage of Chatgpt in Online K-12 Education and Student Preferences About Learning to Use Artificial Intelligence from Teachers

Kyle Doty^1, and Lodi Lipien²

¹Florida Virtual School, American College of Education

²Florida Virtual School

Cite this paper:
Kyle Doty and Lodi Lipien. Student Perceptions and Attitudes About the Usage of Chatgpt in Online K-12 Education and Student Preferences About Learning to Use Artificial Intelligence from Teachers. American Journal of Educational Research. 2024; 12(9):348-355. doi: 10.12691/education-12-9-2

Abstract

This quantitative study investigates high school students’ perceptions and attitudes towards the usage of ChatGPT and other GAI tools in online K-12 education, as well as students’ preferences for learning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) from teachers. Conducted at a large virtual school on the east coast of the USA, the research focuses attention on students in grades 9-12 enrolled in Math courses. The study utilized a 9-item survey to gather data on students’ frequency of AI usage, attitudes towards AI, and student interest in receiving instruction from teachers about AI use. Key findings reveal that while a majority of students do not regularly use AI tools for academic work, there is a significant interest in learning how to effectively utilize these tools. Student participants expressed mixed attitudes towards AI, with ethical issues, loss of critical thinking skills, and over-reliance of technology being the chief concerns. Despite these concerns, many students acknowledged the potential of AI in enhancing learning experiences and expressed a desire for more structured support from educators. The study highlights the need for clear policies and educational strategies to address the ethical implications and practical applications of AI in K-12 virtual education, fostering a balanced approach that enhances learning while mitigating potential drawbacks.

Keywords:
K-12 Education online learning virtual education AI tools ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence AI in Education critical thinking AI integration educational strategies and student perceptions

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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