Ethical Integration of AI in Social Work Education: A Mixed-Methods Study

Background and Purpose: The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), exemplified by technologies like OpenAI's ChatGPT, presents unique challenges and opportunities in social work education. This study examines the experiences of social work educators in incorporating ChatGPT into their teaching, specifically focusing on their strategies to address ethical issues and the perceived impact on student learning.

Methods: This exploratory mixed-methods research combined quantitative data from a survey of 78 social work educators and qualitative insights from 16 semi-structured interviews. The study aimed to assess educators' comfort and strategies in discussing the use of AI tools like ChatGPT, particularly concerning academic integrity and the potential for false academic mastery.

Results: The findings indicate a significant discomfort among educators in addressing the use of AI tools, though they recognize the necessity of such discussions. There is a widespread belief that ChatGPT can create a false sense of mastery of academic material among students. The study also highlights a lack of institutional guidelines on the ethical use of AI, underscoring the need for comprehensive policy development.

Conclusion: Based on the results, the study advocates for the development of a new academic integrity framework that accommodates the unique challenges posed by AI tools. It also calls for proactive measures to integrate these discussions into the social work curriculum, ensuring that social work students are prepared to ethically engage with AI in their professional lives. This includes training educators to effectively address AI in academic settings and fostering a dialogue between faculty and administration to support these initiatives. As AI continues to permeate educational and professional arenas, social work educators must navigate the ethical implications of these technologies. This study provides foundational insights into the challenges and needs of social work educators, paving the way for informed responses to the integration of AI in academic settings.