Exploring Iranian EFL Teachers' Trust in AI-based Education Technology

There has been an expanding tendency in English language education during the past few years as different digital tools are used more frequently. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is one of the burgeoning educational innovations. It is frequently asserted that AI technology can transform the conventional educational environment through features like intelligent guiding, and personalized learning environments. Robotic educators, adaptive learning systems, and intelligent tutoring systems are examples of AI employed by teachers and students in the various contexts. This transition depends on trust, the fundamental principle of human interaction with AI. Higher Education has a substantial knowledge gap regarding teachers' feelings about AI-based educational technology. Consequently, this preliminary case study evaluates EFL instructors' trust in AI, specifically in Iranian English language teaching and learning. Ten EFL teachers participated in an online survey that served as the foundation for this investigation. Despite the small number of participants, the study examines the advantages of AI and perceived trust in it in a classroom setting. In addition, AI diagnosis was viewed with skepticism because current AI technology frequently comprises black-box models with unclear explanations of how the system's fundamental operations operate. The study concludes that implementing AI-based technology in education will never fully replace the conventional educational system regarding social contact, even in how teachers collaborate with AI to improve pedagogy.

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Keywords: higher education ، Educational Technology ، Artificial intelligence ، Technology-enhanced Learning