2610005343
  • Open Access
  • Article

Empowerment or Negativeenergy?—Opportunities, Challenges and Reflections of Preschool Teachers under the Application of Artificial Intelligence

  • Yanran Wang 1, 2,   
  • Chun Fu 2,*,†,   
  • Ying Liu 1,†,   
  • Xi Zhang 1,   
  • Yun Zheng 3,   
  • Furong Guo 2,   
  • Shiwei Hu 4

Received: 27 May 2026 | Revised: 06 Sep 2026 | Accepted: 20 Sep 2026 | Published: 30 Sep 2026

Abstract

From the perspective of I-TPACK theory and entanglement and symbiosis human-computer interaction theory, combined with the analysis of narrative interview materials made by 15 preschool teachers in the whole kindergarten, the current practice status of teachers using AIGC or intelligent tools for home communication, lesson plan design, courseware production, and visual observation of children is investigated with the method of narrative inquiry. The study found that AI is an enabling resource to promote preschool teachers to use data to think, design courses, and complete role changes, but at the same time there are three boundary conflicts: human-machine emotion, educational wisdom, and preschool information ethics. In addition, when teachers use relevant tools, they often have practical troubles such as difficulty in writing prompt words, high operating thresholds, technical dependence, and insufficient AI resources for preschool education. The research proposes three professional growth paths: reshaping teachers’ professional role cognition, cultivating an AI preschool education dual-core literacy system, and building an artificial intelligence teaching and research community to promote the professionalization of preschool teachers.

References 

  • 1.

    Al-Abdullatif, A. M. (2025). Auditing AI Literacy Competency in K–12 Education: The Role of Awareness, Ethics, Evaluation, and Use in Human–Machine Cooperation. Systems, 13(6), 490. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060490.

  • 2.

    Berson, I. R., Berson, M. J., & Luo, W. (2025). Innovating responsibly: Ethical considerations for AI in early childhood education. AI Brain Child, 1, 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44436-025-00003-5.

  • 3.

    Chiu, T. K. (2025). Developing intelligent-TPACK (I-TPACK) framework from unpacking AI literacy and competency: Implementation strategies and future research direction. Interactive Learning Environments, 33(7), 4189–4192.

  • 4.

    Cimino, S., Maremmani, A. G. I., & Cerniglia, L. (2025). The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Early Childhood Education. Societies, 15(12), 341. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15120341.

  • 5.

    Clandinin, D. J. (2006). Narrative inquiry: A methodology for studying lived experience. Research Studies in Music Education, 27(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X060270010301.

  • 6.

    Crescenzi-Lanna, L. (2023). Literature review of the reciprocal value of artificial and human intelligence in early childhood education. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 55(1), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2022.2128480.

  • 7.

    E, L., Toom, A., Pietarinen, J., Soini, T., Haverinen, K., & Pyhältö, K. (2024). Professional agency in the classroom and burnout among early career teachers in China. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1412446. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1412446.

  • 8.

    Eyal, L. (2025). Developing and Validating an AI-TPACK Assessment Framework: Enhancing Teacher Educators’ Professional Practice through Authentic Artifacts. Education Sciences, 15(11), 1452. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15111452.

  • 9.

    Kurian, N. (2025). AI's empathy gap: The risks of conversational Artificial Intelligence for young children's well-being and key ethical considerations for early childhood education and care. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 26(1), 132–139. https://doi.org/10.1177/14639491231206004.

  • 10.

    Lakhe Shrestha, B. L., Dahal, N., Hasan, M. K., Paudel, S., & Kapar, H. (2025). Generative AI in professional development: A narrative inquiry based on the TPACK framework. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1550773. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1550773.

  • 11.

    Li, C., Liu, Y., Wang, Y., Fu, C., Hu, S., & Guo, F. (2026). A Study on the Differences and Influencing Mechanisms of Curriculum Leadership of Urban and Rural Preschool Teachers under Digital Empowerment. Journal of Educational Technology and Innovation, 8(2), 35–54. https://doi.org/10.61414/yhxqnw77.

  • 12.

    Meniado, J. C. (2024). Human–machine collaboration in language education in the age of artificial intelligence. RELC Journal, 55(2), 291–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/00336882241266629.

  • 13.

    Nafukho, F. M., Hairston, N., & Brooks, K. (2004). Human capital theory: Implications for human resource development. Human Resource Development International, 7(4), 545–551. https://doi.org/10.1080/1367886042000299843.

  • 14.

    Putra, D. D. Y., & Sekti, B. A. (2026). Rethinking Education through the Lens of Human-AI Collaboration: Exploring the Shift from Traditional Education Models to AI-Supported Human Collaboration. In Collaborative Paradigms of Generative AI and Human Intelligence for Equitable Learning Futures (pp. 423–452). IGI Global. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/rethinking-education-through-the-lens-of-human-ai-collaboration/410443.

  • 15.

    Wan, P., & Gu, X. (2026). Developing teachers’ professional abilities: A systematic review of human-machine dialogic learning for teacher education. Interactive Learning Environments, 34(2), 615–639. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2025.2507280.

  • 16.

    Wu, K., Chen, Y., & Jiang, W. (2025). Exploring the relationship between human teachers and machines in the age of intelligence—Human-machine symbiosis. In 2025 5th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education (ICAIE) (pp. 289–293). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICAIE64856.2025.11157959.

  • 17.

    Yang, C., Jiang, J., & Gao, M. (2025). Research on the application and development of artificial intelligence assisted education and teaching under the perspective of human-machine collaboration. In 2025 14th International Conference on Educational and Information Technology (ICEIT) (pp. 207–212). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICEIT64364.2025.10976098.

Share this article:
How to Cite
Wang, Y.; Fu, C.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, X.; Zheng, Y.; Guo, F.; Hu, S. Empowerment or Negativeenergy?—Opportunities, Challenges and Reflections of Preschool Teachers under the Application of Artificial Intelligence. Journal of Educational Technology and Innovation 2026, 8 (3), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.61414/4a17gm79.
RIS
BibTex
Copyright & License
article copyright Image
Copyright (c) 2026 by the authors.
Article Metrics
7
Article Views
0
Citations