An Analysis of the Relationship between Technology Utilization Ability and Artificial Intelligence Education, Coding Education Perception of Pre-service Early Childhood Teachers

Objectives The purpose of this study is to empirically verify the relationship between technology utilization ability and awareness of artificial intelligence and coding education for pre-service early childhood teachers. Methods For this purpose, a survey was conducted on 180 pre-service early childhood teachers majoring in child studies and early childhood education at a university located in J city, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS program to verify reliability, mean comparison, and correlation analysis. Results As for the difference in perception of research variables according to the demographic characteristics of pre-service early childhood teachers, pre-service early childhood teachers who completed information literacy education and had experience in artificial intelligence and coding education showed high level of perception of technology utilization ability and artificial intelligence and coding education. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between technology utilization ability and the perception of artificial intelligence and coding education. Conclusions In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, early childhood teachers should cultivate information- related skills. Therefore, educational institutions that train early childhood teachers should actively review ways to strengthen education related to technology utilization education, artificial intelligence education, and coding education.