Factors influencing EAL teachers’ uptake of AI for teaching and implications for professional development

Factors influencing EAL teachers’ uptake of AI for teaching & implications for professional development covered a study on factors that impacted EAL (English as an Additional Language) teachers’ adoption of AI in teaching, presented at the VicTESOL Professional Learning session by Louise Smith and Dr. Tanya Tran.

The study, conducted with AMES Australia, explored the role of AI in education, focusing on institutional and teacher-related factors that influenced AI use. It highlighted findings from a survey of EAL teachers on their experiences, digital skills, and preferences for professional development (PD) tailored to AI integration.

Key findings revealed that many teachers rated AI as important and felt comfortable using it, with a preference for PD that included practical and reflective activities. Teachers also suggested improvements for tools like the MyAMES Chat app to better support diverse student needs. The presentation concluded with suggestions for future research to explore the broader impacts of AI on teaching practices and teacher collaboration in PD solutions.