Enhancing AI Literacy: A Collaborative Self-Study of Elementary Teacher Educators

Abstract

This self-study highlights the collaborative journey of two elementary teacher educators from a rural institution as they navigated the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into teaching and research. To grow their AI literacy, they engaged in reflective practices, collaborative discussions, and hands-on implementation of GenAI technologies. Through this process, they documented their experiences with AI-driven chatbots, offering insights into their learnings and concerns. Their reflections underscored the importance of understanding GenAI’s role in education, the challenges of integrating GenAI tools effectively, and the potential of GenAI in teaching and learning. The educators concluded that while GenAI can augment human capabilities, it cannot replace human expertise due to its limitations. By capturing their journey, this study contributed to the growing discourse on AI literacy among teacher educators, emphasizing the need for upskilling and ongoing professional development in the face of rapidly evolving technologies.