Competence in and attitudes towards artificial intelligence among Turkish language pre-service teachers

This study aims to assess Turkish language pre-service teachers’ competence in and attitudes towards the use of AI applications. In this context, the relationship between pre-service teachers’ competencies in using AI and their attitudes towards AI was examined to determine whether AI competencies are predictors of their attitudes towards AI. The study utilized a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methodologies to achieve a comprehensive and insightful analysis. Generative Artificial Intelligence Usage and Competence (GAIUC) Scale, along with the University Students’ Attitude Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale (SATAI), were employed to gather quantitative data. A semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher was used to gather qualitative data. The study’s results indicate that pre-service teachers possess a moderate level of competence in using artificial intelligence and exhibit a positive attitude toward this technology. Additionally, a strong positive correlation was found between their competence in using artificial intelligence and their attitude towards this technology. Pre-service teachers frequently use applications such as ChatGPT, Canva AI, Microsoft Copilot, and DeepSeek in educational settings. They primarily utilize these tools for creating materials, producing content, supporting homework, quickly accessing information, and facilitating in-depth learning. In their future careers, they plan to use these applications for assessment and evaluation in the teaching process, personalized learning, content creation, and designing creative materials. They also emphasize the importance of receiving training in AI applications.