Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of Undergraduate Pre-Service Teachers about the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

Authors

• Katrina Arndt, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Keywords

fsc2026

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate perceptions of preservice teachers about the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)  in preparing materials for teaching. There is an urgent need to understand how teachers understand and use generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) (Du et al, 2024). In preservice teacher education at St. John Fisher University, the sequence of coursework includes specific attention to educational technology, including instruction about GenAI. When preservice teachers take EDUC 204 - Educational Technology, they are also enrolled in a fieldwork experience. They complete 50 hours of fieldwork in an area classroom that aligns with their future certification area (inclusive childhood - grades 1-6 or inclusive secondary - grades 5-12). Then, in a future semester, they complete 50 hours of fieldwork in a different classroom while taking their second "block" of education classes, including methods coursework that includes lesson planning and preparing other educational materials.

When students take EDUC 204 - Educational Technology, they are explicitly taught about the background, use, and refinement of content from GenAI. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) notes that teachers benefit from skills to "curate, create, and critically assess AI technologies" (2025, para. 1). Students who took EDUC 204 in Fall 2024 explored educational technology through readings and practical applications, including reading about the use of AI in the classroom, using a range of AI tools, and evaluating how well AI models created materials for use in the classroom.

Comments

Poster presented at the 2026 Fisher Showcase, St. John Fisher University, April 17, 2026.

Publication Information

Arndt, Katrina, "Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of Undergraduate Pre-Service Teachers about the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)" (2026). Fisher Showcase 2026. Paper 218.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/fsc2026/218

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