Assessing AI awareness, legal-ethical issues, and utilization practices of stakeholders at Divine Word College of Laoag: Towards implementing rules and regulations for responsible use

Abstract

The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has transformed the way students and educators accomplish academic tasks and engage in classroom activities. While AI offers opportunities to enhance learning efficiency, improve access to information, and support academic productivity, its growing use also raises concerns regarding academic integrity, data privacy, and the absence of clear institutional guidelines. This study, entitled “From Tool to Rule: Regulating AI Use in the Modern Classroom,” examined the awareness, utilization, legal and ethical considerations, and challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence among students, faculty members, and administrators of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education (SASE) of Divine Word College of Laoag. Using a descriptive-quantitative research design, data were gathered from 180 respondents, consisting of 150 students, 21 faculty members, and 9 administrators, through a structured survey questionnaire. The findings revealed a high level of awareness and utilization of artificial intelligence in academic tasks, particularly in writing, research, summarization, and classroom learning activities. Respondents likewise demonstrated awareness of academic integrity concerns, although awareness of institutional policies and data privacy issues remained relatively limited. Major challenges identified included concerns regarding the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated outputs, data privacy risks, and overreliance on AI technologies. Based on the findings, the study proposed implementing rules and regulations governing the responsible use of artificial intelligence in academic tasks and classroom activities. The study concludes that while AI has become an important educational tool, clear institutional policies are essential to ensure its ethical, responsible, and effective integration in academic settings.