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This study examines the relationship between AI literacy and ethical awareness among educators to assess preparedness for responsible AI use.

May 16, 2026Open Access

AI Literacy and Ethical Awareness: A Study on Educators' Preparedness for Responsible AI Use

Key Points

This study examines the relationship between AI literacy and ethical awareness among educators to assess preparedness for responsible AI use.
Quantitative-correlational research design was used.
151 educators were randomly selected from a population of 243.
Data collected using the Meta AI Literacy Scale (MAILS) with robust statistical analysis applied.
Educators had moderately low levels of AI literacy (M = 3.65, SD = 1.42) and ethical awareness (M = 3.70, SD = 1.39).
A strong positive relationship was found between AI literacy and ethical awareness (r = 0.63, p ≤ 0.05).
Identified deficiencies in higher-order competencies like critical evaluation and bias mitigation in AI.

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: This study examined the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy and AI ethical awareness among educators, specifically determining their levels and testing whether a statistically significant relationship exists between the two variables. Method: A quantitative–correlational research design was employed. From a population of 243 educators, 151 faculty members were selected using random sampling. Data were collected using an adapted Meta AI Literacy Scale (MAILS), which demonstrated acceptable content validity and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Findings: Results revealed that educators exhibited moderately low levels of AI literacy AI literacy (M = 3.65, SD = 1.42) and AI ethical awareness (M = 3.70, SD = 1.39). Specifically, deficiencies were observed in higher-order competencies such as critical evaluation and practical application of AI tools. Ethical awareness was also limited, particularly in areas of bias mitigation, data privacy, and academic integrity. Correlation analysis showed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship (r = 0.63, p ≤ 0.05) between AI literacy and ethical awareness, indicating that higher levels of technical competence are associated with stronger ethical understanding. These findings suggest that improving AI literacy may directly enhance educators’ ethical decision-making in AI integration. Novelty: This study provides empirical evidence from rural Philippine State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), a context that remains underexplored in AI-in-education research. It highlights the interconnected development of AI literacy and ethical awareness and offers data-driven insights for designing capacity-building programs in resource-constrained educational settings. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, AI Literacy, AI Ethical Awareness, Education Technology, Faculty Competence

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Cite This Study

Jesus M Meneses III (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a080a11a487c87a6a40be44 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/v19i17.523

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