INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) CHATBOTS IN TEACHING INTEGRATED SCIENCE IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA: OPPORTUNITIES, PEDAGOGICAL IMPACTS AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES.

Abstract

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is reshaping educational landscapes globally, with AI-powered chatbots emerging as promising tools for enhancing teaching and learning processes. This study investigates the integration of AI chatbots in the teaching of Integrated Science in secondary schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study is focused on perceived opportunities, pedagogical impacts, and ethical challenges. A descriptive survey design was employed, using the entire population of fifty-seven (57) Integrated Science teachers in Zaria as the sample, adopting a census method suitable for small and accessible populations to ensure comprehensive data collection. A structured questionnaire was administered in accordance with standard procedures. Descriptive statistics and a t-test was used to analyse the collected data. The results indicate that although teachers perceive AI chatbots as pedagogically beneficial, this perception does not significantly predict their intention to adopt the technology. A significant difference was found between teachers’ and students’ ethical perceptions, with teachers showing greater concern for issues such as data privacy and algorithmic bias. Furthermore, prior Information and Ccommunications Technology (ICT) training did not significantly influence teachers’ readiness to implement AI tools, suggesting the importance of other factors such as institutional support and technological self-efficacy. The study concludes that while AI chatbots offer valuable opportunities for improving Integrated Science instruction, successful integration depends on the establishment of ethical safeguards, the provision of targeted teacher training, and the development of contextually relevant implementation strategies. Recommendations are provided to inform policy, teacher development, and future research on the effective and responsible use of AI in Nigerian education.