Teachers' and Students' Perceptions Towards the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Learners' Autonomy

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence in the field of education enhances the learning experiences through intelligent systems capable of analysing, adopting, and personalizing teaching. AI has a notable influence, particularly on student engagement and academic performance. Therefore, despite the increasing use of AI tools in education, there is still limited understanding of their impact on learners’ autonomy, especially in EFL contexts. This research explores how both teachers and learners perceive the impact of AI tools on learners' autonomy. This paper aims to answer the following questions: What are EFL teachers' perceptions toward the impact of AI tools on learners' autonomy? How do EFL learners perceive the impact of AI tools on their autonomy? What benefits do learners get from AI-supported learning? And does the use of AI tools influence learners’ autonomy positively? To reach the aim of the study and to answer the research questions, data were collected through two questionnaires, the first one was administered to sixty Master’s one EFL learners, and the other questionnaire was delivered to twelve EFL teachers. Both groups of participants were taken from the Department of Foreign Languages at Abdelhafid Boussouf University of Mila. Upon analysis, the research findings indicate that both teachers and learners have a positive attitude toward using AI tools and their role in promoting learner autonomy and enhancing learning. However, some challenges appeared, such as the overreliance on technology and the negative impact on learners’ creativity and critical thinking. They focused on the ethical and responsible use of AI tools, which are important to enhance learner autonomy and promote learning.