Perception as A Predictor of Undergraduates’ Readiness to Use Artificial Intelligence Tools for Their Learning And Enhanced Achievement in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as one of the major technologies in the fourth educational revolution, it is an innovative technology used by undergraduates’ for learning. Despite the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in learning and achievement , undergraduate need to  be repositioned in their  use AI tools for their   learning and achievement   in North-Central Nigeria. Hence, this study investigated  predictors of undergraduates' readiness to use AI tools for learning and enhancing achievement  in North-Central Nigeria. This study adopted a correlation  research approach comprising of quantitative and qualitative research design using an explanatory sequential research design. The population for the study were all undergraduate students in North Central Nigeria. The target population consisted of all undergraduate students in the selected universities with an estimated population of 500,000 undergraduate students. Three states were purposively selected because of their large population size. Multistage sampling technique was used in the study comprising of purposive sampling, simple random sampling and proportional sampling techniques to select 1,065 undergraduate students from the population and 15 participants for interview. A researcher-designed questionnaire wand semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by six experts and a pilot test was conducted on 40 undergraduate students, the data obtained were analyzed using Cronbach alpha and a reliability index of 0.80 and 0.85 were obtained for perception and readiness respectively. Mean, standard deviation and scatter plot were used to answer the research questions. Research hypotheses were analyzed using linear regression at 0.05 level of significance. The qualitative data were organized, transcribed and analyzed. Findings of the study revealed: r (1,972) = 5817.061, p (0.000) < 0.05 implying that Undergraduate perception is significantly predictive of readiness to use artificial intelligence tools for learning and enhanced achievement  in North-Central Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that conferences, seminars and workshops should be organized for undergraduate to increase their level of awareness on the available AI tools that can enhance their learning.