AI Literacy, Gender, and Device Use Predict Positive Attitudes to Artificial Intelligence in Turkish Universities

How AI Literacy Shapes Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly relevant across academic disciplines, yet attitudes toward AI vary widely. Understanding what influences these attitudes is essential for educators who want to promote effective AI integration in learning environments.

A recent study involving 533 university participants in Türkiye explored how AI literacy relates to attitudes toward AI. It also examined how factors like age, gender, digital device use, and academic roles impact this relationship.

Key Findings on AI Literacy and Attitudes

The study found a strong positive connection between AI literacy and favorable attitudes toward AI. In fact, AI literacy alone explained 17.5% of the variation in positive attitudes, highlighting its critical role. People with higher AI literacy tend to view AI more positively.

Gender and the use of digital devices, particularly laptops and PCs, also influenced attitudes. These findings suggest that both technological familiarity and demographic factors affect how individuals perceive AI.

What This Means for Educators

For those involved in education, these insights point to clear actions:

• Boost AI Literacy: Incorporate AI-focused content and training into curricula to increase familiarity and comfort with AI technologies.
• Consider Demographic Differences: Tailor AI education strategies to address varying needs by gender and technology use patterns.
• Promote Access to Digital Tools: Ensure students and staff have adequate access to devices like laptops and PCs, which support positive AI engagement.

Fostering AI literacy is not just about teaching technical skills—it also shapes more positive, informed attitudes that can facilitate smoother adoption of AI in academic settings.

About the Researchers

• Nuray Gedik is an Associate Professor specializing in e-learning, blended learning, and instructional design at Eskişehir Technical University.
• Mehmet Ali Işıkoğlu works in educational measurement and evaluation and focuses on advanced statistical methods in education at Eskişehir Technical University.
• Serkan Şendağ is a Professor and senior researcher at Mersin University, with expertise in e-learning and technology-enhanced teaching.

These experts provide valuable perspectives on how AI literacy intersects with educational technology and pedagogy.

Additional Resources

Educators interested in enhancing AI literacy can explore a variety of courses and training options available online. For example, Complete AI Training offers up-to-date courses that can help build AI skills for educators and learners alike.

Understanding and improving attitudes toward AI ultimately supports better integration of AI tools in education, benefiting both teaching and learning processes.