Integration of Artificial Intelligence Tool (Ai-Chatbot) into Teaching and Learning: A Panacea for Improving Universities` Educational and Administrative Duties in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Recent innovations in the field of Artificial intelligence (AI) has led to diverse influx of newer technologies, such as expert systems, intelligence tutoring systems (ITS) and conversation technologies among others. Conversational technologies such as AI-chatbot is capable of sharing and reducing the multiple-task which the 21st century school administrators and lecturers are saddled with. Since this hectic tasks; instructional delivery of contents, assessment and grading of students learning outcome, career guardian/counseling services are enormous. It is on this premise that the present study is necessitated, to investigate the integration of AI-chatbot into teaching and learning: A panacea for improving educational and administrative duties among universities in South-South geopolitical zone, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Three objectives with corresponding research questions guided the study. Three hypotheses were also tested at 0.05 alpha significant levels. The population of the study is 252,000 public universities students in South-South (Delta state, Edo State and Bayelsa). The sample size used was 399 respondents (274 students, 67 lecturers and 58 admin staffs) in the state and federal universities in the states. The instrument used for data collection was AICHATBOTSQ (AI-chatbot structured questionnaire) consisting of 20 items. Data gathered were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study found that there is no significant difference in the mean rating of respondents on the need for AI-chatbot in teaching and learning as well as performing administrative tasks among universities in South-South; there is little availability of AI-chatbot technology in handling universities` administrative duties; and, the findings shows that poor internet facilities, instabilities in governance, inadequate funding, poor electricity supply among others are factors inhibiting implementation of AI-chatbot towards administrative duties among universities in South-South, Nigeria. Therefore, this study recommends full integration of artificial intelligence tool (AI-chatbot) into teaching and learning as a means for improving universities` educational and administrative duties in in south-south, Nigeria. Also, federal government should provide internet services for proper integration of AI-chatbot into education in universities in South-South geopolitical zone and Nigeria in general.