Analysis of special education teachers’ interest in artificial intelligence education

Objectives This study sought to investigate special education teachers' interest in artificial intelligence education(hereinafter referred to as AI education) in the introduction of special education, and to derive implications for effectively applying AI education to special education fields. Methods In order to investigate the interest in AI education of special education teachers, 237 current special education teachers were surveyed online using the SoCQ test tool. For data processing, the general characteristics of the study subjects and the intensity percentile score for each SoCQ sub-stage were investigated through frequency and ratio, and t-test and ANOVA were conducted to compare the difference in AI education interest by special education teachers' background variables. Results The results of the study are as follows. First, special education teachers' interest in AI education was similar to the non-user profile and their interest in the impact of AI education was relatively low. Second, there was no statistically significant difference in interest in AI education according to gender and working institution and in terms of student disability type, the interest of teachers teaching students with sensory and physical disabilities was high in all stages except stage 3(operation), a significant difference appeared. Third, in terms of teaching experience, the higher the teaching experience, the higher the interest in AI education. In terms of educational background, the higher the educational level, the higher the interest in AI education. There was a significant difference in both teaching experience and educational background. Fourth, in terms of SW education-related training hours and AI education-related training hours, the more training hours there were, the higher the level of interest in both SW education and AI education. Fifth, in terms of SW education competency, the higher the SW education competency, the higher the interest in AI education, and in terms of AI education support, the higher the support for AI education, the higher the interest. Conclusions According to these results, as a way to increase special education teachers' interest in AI education, promote AI education to special education teachers so that they can be effective and interested in students with disabilities, and provide sufficient AI education methods and teaching and learning materials according to the type of disability. Needs to be. In addition, national-level policy support is needed, such as providing opportunities for expert collaboration and establishing new training courses so that special education teachers can develop AI education-related capabilities.