Araştırma Makalesi

The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs

Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1 30 Ekim 2026
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The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs

Öz

This study aimed to examine pre-service early childhood teachers’ conceptual understandings of artificial intelligence (AI), AI literacy, pedagogical orientations, affective responses, ethical concerns, and perceived training needs. The study employed a qualitative descriptive design informed by phenomenological sensitivity. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 38 fourth-year pre-service early childhood teachers enrolled in an AI literacy course at Kafkas University during the 2025–2026 academic year and analyzed using inductive content analysis. The findings indicated that participants generally perceived AI as a human-like and assistive technology; however, these understandings remained limited and at times ambiguous. Although participants expressed curiosity and positive attitudes toward AI, they also reported anxiety, low self-confidence, and uncertainty regarding its pedagogical use in early childhood education. Ethical concerns mainly centered on the need for teacher oversight, screen dependency, and possible negative effects on children’s socialization. In addition, participants considered their pre-service education insufficient and emphasized the need for more practice-oriented and context-sensitive AI training.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kaynakça

  1. Abdulayeva, A., Zhanatbekova, N., Andasbayev, Y., & Boribekova, F. (2025). Fostering AI literacy in pre-service physics teachers: Inputs from training and co-variables. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1505420
  2. Akman, G. İ., & Akman, Y. (2025). Eğitim inançları ve yapay zekâ: Öğretmen adayları üzerine bir araştırma. Batı Anadolu Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 16(1), 911-928.
  3. Banaz, E., & Demirel, O. (2024). Türkçe öğretmen adaylarının yapay zekâ okuryazarlıklarının farklı değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Buca Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, (60), 1516-1529. https://doi.org/10.53444/deubefd.1461048
  4. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman and Company.
  5. Bembenutty, H. (2023). Self-regulated learning and technology among teacher candidates. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2023(175), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.20546
  6. Bers, M. U., Seddighin, S., & Sullivan, A. (2013). Ready for robotics: Bringing together the T and E of STEM in early childhood teacher education. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 21(3), 355–377.
  7. Burgsteiner, H., Kandlhofer, M., & Steinbauer, G. (2016). IROBOT: Teaching the basics of artificial intelligence in high schools. In Proceedings of the 30th AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (pp. 4138–4139). AAAI Press.
  8. Bursa, G. Y. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence and preschool education activities: ethical, pedagogical, and applied approaches. Journal of Innovative Research in Teacher Education, 6(2), 91-102. https://doi.org/10.29329/jirte.2025.1341.4

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Öğretim Teknolojileri, Öğretmen Eğitimi ve Eğitimcilerin Mesleki Gelişimi, Okul Öncesi Eğitim

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

30 Ekim 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

17 Nisan 2026

Kabul Tarihi

27 Ekim 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1

Kaynak Göster

APA
Kaya, Ü. Ü., & Gözüm, A. İ. C. (2026). The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, 15(1), 1079-1102. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.1932692
AMA
1.Kaya ÜÜ, Gözüm AİC. The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs. CUE. 2026;15(1):1079-1102. doi:10.30703/cije.1932692
Chicago
Kaya, Ümit Ünsal, ve Ali İbrahim Can Gözüm. 2026. “The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs”. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi 15 (1): 1079-1102. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.1932692.
EndNote
Kaya ÜÜ, Gözüm AİC (01 Ekim 2026) The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi 15 1 1079–1102.
IEEE
[1]Ü. Ü. Kaya ve A. İ. C. Gözüm, “The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs”, CUE, c. 15, sy 1, ss. 1079–1102, Eki. 2026, doi: 10.30703/cije.1932692.
ISNAD
Kaya, Ümit Ünsal - Gözüm, Ali İbrahim Can. “The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs”. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi 15/1 (01 Ekim 2026): 1079-1102. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.1932692.
JAMA
1.Kaya ÜÜ, Gözüm AİC. The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs. CUE. 2026;15:1079–1102.
MLA
Kaya, Ümit Ünsal, ve Ali İbrahim Can Gözüm. “The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs”. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, c. 15, sy 1, Ekim 2026, ss. 1079-02, doi:10.30703/cije.1932692.
Vancouver
1.Ümit Ünsal Kaya, Ali İbrahim Can Gözüm. The Promise and Unease of AI: Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Conceptualizations, Confidence, and Training Needs. CUE. 01 Ekim 2026;15(1):1079-102. doi:10.30703/cije.1932692

e-ISSN: 2147-1606