INFLUENCE OF AI ON CHILDREN VOCABULARY SKILLS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATEINFLUENCE OF AI ON CHILDREN VOCABULARY SKILLS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE

Abstract

The study investigated artificial influence of AI on children vocabulary skills in early childhood education in Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State. Two research questions guided the study and two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significant. The study Adopted a descriptive survey research design. The area of study was Makurdi local government, the headquarters of Benue State. The population of the study was 221 primary school teachers from 22 government aided primary schools within the 11 council wards in Makurdi Government Area of Benue state (Source: Ministry of Education, 2026). The study adopted a multi-staged sampling procedure. The sample size of the study comprised of 212 teachers. The study collected data with the use of a 15 items instrument titled: Artificial Intelligence as Instructional Tool Questionnaire (ATIITQ). The instrument was validated by three experts in the Faculty of Education, Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University for scrutiny to ensure that they are capable of measuring the variables of the study. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions. The cut-off point of 2.50 was used to determine positive role than 2.50 was regarded as non-significant. Chai-square was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance, the study revealed that artificial intelligence is an instructional toll in childhood education. Artificial intelligence plays significant role on vocabulary skills and learning motivation in early childhood education. The study recommended among others that early childhood education centres should integrate artificial intelligence-powered instructional tools into classroom teaching to enhance children's vocabulary skills and learning motivation. Government agencies and school proprietors should provide adequate technological infrastructure, including computers, tablets, internet connectivity, and AI-based educational software, to support effective implementation of AI in early childhood education