Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

Identity in Transition: How Teachers Learn, Adapt, and Evolve with AI

Valerie Bennett 1,
Christine Anne Royce 2 *
1 Clark Atlanta University2 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania* Corresponding Author
Download PDF
Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2026, pp. 73-96
OPEN ACCESS VIEWS: 122 DOWNLOADS: 40 Publication date: 15 Jan 2026
ABSTRACT
With the surge in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years, educators have been introduced to new tools that may influence and change the future of education as it is known. How educators adapt to and evolve with AI depends on how they view AI in relation to who they are and how they teach. This article defines identity in education, from academic identity to specific disciplinary identities like STEM identity for educators, which involves an integrated understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It introduces the critical concept of AI Identity, defined as a professional self-concept encompassing comfort, competence, and agency in leveraging AI for teaching. Developing an AI Identity is a four-step iterative process: Understanding, Exploration, Implementation, and Reflection and Criticality. Key competencies for an AI-identified educator include theoretical knowledge (episteme), practical skills (techne), and crucial professional judgment (phronesis). The article emphasizes the urgent need for teacher education programs to integrate AI competencies across curricula, preparing future educators to use AI, ensuring they are AI-ready and can model critical engagement with students responsibly and effectively.
KEYWORDS
Identity, Academic Identity, AI Identity, AI Literacy, Teacher Preparation
CITATION (APA)
Bennett, V., & Royce, C. A. (2026). Identity in Transition: How Teachers Learn, Adapt, and Evolve with AI. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 9(1), 73-96. https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.914
REFERENCES
  1. Al-Zahrani, A. M. (2024). Unveiling the shadows: Beyond the hype of AI in education. Heliyon, 10(9), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30696
  2. Barton, A. C. (1998). Teaching science with homeless children: Pedagogy, representation, and identity. Journal of Research in Science Teaching: The Official Journal of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, 35(4), 379-394.
  3. Beauchamp, C., & Thomas, L. (2009). Understanding teacher identity: An overview of issues in the literature and implications for teacher education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 39(2), 175-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057640902902252
  4. Bennett, V., & Royce, C. A. (2025, February 10). Finding your AI Identity as a science teacher. National Science Teaching Association. https://www.nsta.org/blog/finding-your-ai-identity-science-teacher
  5. Carlone, H. B., & Johnson, A. (2007). Understanding the science experiences of successful women of color: Science identity as an analytic lens. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 44(8), 1187-1218. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20237
  6. Dilberti, M. K., Schwartz, H. L., Doan, S., Shapiro, A., Rainey, L. R., & Lake, R. J. (2024). Using artificial intelligence tools in K-12 classrooms. RAND. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA956-21.html
  7. Dilek, M., Baran, E., & Aleman, E. (2025). AI literacy in teacher education: Empowering educators through critical co-discovery. Journal of Teacher Education, 76(3), 294-311. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224871251325083
  8. Dou, R., & Cian, H. (2021). Constructing STEM identity: An expanded structural model for STEM identity research. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21734
  9. El Nagdi, M., Leammukda, F., & Roehrig, G. (2018). Developing identities of STEM teachers at emerging STEM schools. International Journal of STEM Education, 5(36) 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-018-0136-1
  10. Faverio, K., & Tyson, A. (2023). What the data says about Americans’ views of artificial intelligence. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/21/what-the-data-says-about-americans-views-of-artificial-intelligence/
  11. Galanti, T. M., & Holincheck, L. K. (2022). Beyond content and curriculum in elementary classrooms: Conceptualizing the cultivation of integrated STEM teacher identity. International Journal of STEM Education 9(43), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-022-00358-8
  12. Gamby, T., Kil, D., Koblic, R., LeBlanc, P., Moldoveneau, M., & Siemens, G. (2025, September 18). The AI tsunami is here: Reinventing education for the age of AI. EDUCAUSE Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2025/9/the-ai-tsunami-is-here-reinventing-education-for-the-age-of-ai
  13. Gee, J. P. (2000). Identity as an analytic lens for research in education. Review of Research in Education, 25, 99–125. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1167322
  14. German, S., Royce, C. A., & DeVore-Wedding, B. R. (2022). Transforming technology purpose and integration: Crossing the technological chasm without falling in. In P. Bawa (Ed.), Preparing faculty for technology dependency in the post-COVID-19 era (pp. 153-173). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-9235-9.ch009
  15. Ghimire, A., Prather, J., & Edwards, J. (2024). Generative AI in education: A study of educators’ awareness, sentiments, and influencing factors. Arxiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.15586
  16. Godwin, A. & Potvin, G. (2017). Pushing and pulling Sara: A case study of the contrasting influences of high school and university experiences on engineering agency, identity, and participation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 54, 439-462. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21372
  17. Grimalt-Álvaro, C., Couso, D., Boixadera-Planas, E., & Godec, S. (2022). “I see myself as a STEM person”: Exploring high school students’ self-identification with STEM. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 59(5), 720–745. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21742
  18. Hachey, A. C. (2020). Success for all: fostering early childhood STEM identity. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 13(1), 135–139. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-01-2020-0001
  19. Hachey, A. C., An, S. A., & Golding, D. E. (2022). Nurturing kindergarteners’ early STEM academic identity through makerspace pedagogy. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(4), 469–479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01154-9
  20. Hite, R., & Tauber, M. (2019). Translating research to practice on individual and collective mathematics and science identity formation: Pedagogical recommendations for teachers. Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership 5(1). https://doi.org/10.46767/kfp.2016-0028
  21. Holincheck, N. M., & Galanti, T. M. (2025). STEM teacher identity and agency: A cross-case analysis of four teachers’ actions for equity in STEM. Journal for STEM Education Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-025-00163-2
  22. Hollands, F., & Breazeal, C. (2024). Establishing AI literacy before adopting AI. The Science Teacher, 91(2), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00368555.2024.2308316
  23. Huvard, H., Talbot, R. M., Mason, H., Thompson, A. N., Ferrara, M., & Wee, B. (2020). Science identity and metacognitive development in undergraduate mentor-teachers. International Journal of STEM Education, 7(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00231-6
  24. Kaplan, A., & Flum, H. (2012). Identity formation in educational settings: A critical focus for education in the 21st century. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 37, 171-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2012.01.005
  25. Kaplan, A., & Garner, J. K. (2017). A complex dynamic systems perspective on identity and its development: The dynamic systems model of role identity. Developmental Psychology, 53(11), 2036. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000339
  26. Kim, A. Y., Sinatra, G. M., & Seyranian, V. (2018). Developing a STEM identity among young women: A social identity perspective. Review of Educational Research, 88(4), 589-625. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654318779957
  27. Kopp, W. (2025, January 13). Nurturing a thriving teaching profession in an AI-enhanced world. OECD Education and Skills Today (Blog). https://oecdedutoday.com/nurturing-a-thriving-teaching-profession-in-an-ai-enhanced-world/
  28. MacDowell, P., Moskalyk, K., Korchinski, K., & Morrison, D. (2024). Preparing educators to teach and create with generative artificial intelligence. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 50(4), 1-23. https://cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/28606/21131
  29. Ng, D. T. K., Leung, J. K. L., Chu, S. K. W., & Qiao, M. S. (2021). Conceptualizing AI literacy: An exploratory review. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100041
  30. Norman-McKay, L. (2023). Shaping positive STEM identity for student success. American Society for Microbiology. https://asm.org/articles/2023/september/shaping-positive-stem-identity-for-student-success
  31. OECD (2024), Education policy outlook 2024: Reshaping teaching into a thriving profession from ABCs to AI, OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/dd5140e4-en.
  32. Royce, C. A. (2025). Becoming AI literate: Preparing future educators for the use of AI. In K. L. Keeley (Ed.), AI applications, and strategies in teacher education (pp. 1-20). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5443-8
  33. Royce, C. A. (2024). Shaping future educators: Embracing change for the future of teaching. In N. A. Bakhsh (Ed.), Futuristic insights on education (pp. 11–36). Regional Center for Educational Planning, United Arab Emirates. https://rcepunesco.ae/cms/Studies/02_Edited_Volume_2024_EN_Online.pdf
  34. Royce, C. A. & German, S. (2019). Constructing meaning and engaging learners: Digital tools and practices in middle level science. In Handbook of research on innovative digital practices to engage learners. pp. 68-99. DOI: 0.4018/978-1-5225-9438-3
  35. Rushton, E. A. C., Smith, E.R., Steadman, S., & Towers, E. (2023). Understanding teacher identity in teachers’ professional lives: A systematic review of the literature. Review of Education, 11(2), e3417. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3417
  36. Seo, K., Tang, J., Roll, I. et al. (2021). The impact of artificial intelligence on learner–instructor interaction in online learning. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(54). 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00292-9
  37. Shanahan, M.-C. (2009). Identity in science learning: Exploring the attention given to agency and structure in studies of identity. Studies in Science Education, 45(1), 43–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057260802681847
  38. Sperling, K., Sternberg, C-J., McGrath, C., Akerfeldt, A., Heintz, F., & Stenliden, L. (2024). In search of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in teacher education: A scoping review. Computers and Education Open, 6, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2024.100169
  39. Tadimalla, S. Y., & Maher, M. L., (2024) AI literacy for all: Adjustable interdisciplinary socio-technical curriculum, in 2024 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), Washington, DC, USA, 1-9, doi: 10.1109/FIE61694.2024.10893159.
  40. Talafian, H., Moy, M. K., Woodard, M. A., & Foster, A. N. (2019). STEM identity exploration through an immersive learning environment. Journal for STEM Education Research, 2(2), 105–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-019-00018-7
  41. UNESCO. (2024). AI competency framework for teachers. UNESCO Publishing. https://doi.org/10.54675/ZJTE2084
  42. UNESCO. (2025, January 20). Artificial intelligence in education: UNESCO advances key competencies for teachers and learners. UNESCO News/Story. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/artificial-intelligence-education-unesco-advances-key-competencies-teachers-and-learners
  43. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2023). Artificial intelligence and the future of teaching and learning: Insights and recommendations. U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/documents/ai-report/ai-report.pdf
  44. Verhoeven, M., Poorthuis, A.M.G. & Volman, M. (2019). The role of school in adolescents’ identity development. A literature review. Educational Psychology Review, 31, 35–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-018-9457-3
  45. Walton Family Foundation and Gallup. (2025). Teaching for tomorrow: Unlocking six weeks a year with AI. https://www.gallup.com/analytics/691922/walton-family-foundation-gallup-teachers-report.aspx
  46. Weinberg, A.E., Balgopal, M.M. & Sample McMeeking, L.B. (2021). Professional growth and identity development of STEM teacher educators in a community of practice. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 19, 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-020-10148-9
  47. Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge University Press.
  48. Xie, S., Zimmerman, J., & Eslami, M. (2025). Exploring what people need to know to be AI literate: Tailoring for a diversity of AI roles and responsibilities. In CHI ‘25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Article 1018, pp. 1–16). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713841
  49. Zembylas, M. (2003a). Emotions and teacher identity: A poststructural perspective. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 9(3), 213–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540600309378
  50. Zembylas, M. (2003b). Interrogating “teacher identity”: Emotion, resistance, and self-formation. Educational Theory, 53(1), 107–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-5446.2003.00107.x
  51. Zhai, Y., Tripp, J., & Liu, X. (2024). Science teacher identity research: A scoping literature review. International Journal of STEM Education, 11(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00481-8
  52. Zhang, D., Wijaya, T. T., Wang, Y., Su, M., Li, X., & Damayanti, N. W. (2025). Exploring the relationship between AI literacy, AI trust, AI dependency, and 21st century skills in preservice mathematics teachers. Scientific Reports, 15(14281). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99127-0
LICENSE
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.