Abstract:

This contribution discusses the design and initial validation of a reflective digital tutor utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance teachers' self-efficacy in inclusive education. The tutor is based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory and functions as a conversational partner that assists users through four interactive modules (mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and emotional states), each designed to prompt structured reflection on actual classroom scenarios and inclusive practices.

In the first stage, five university educators specializing in teacher training and inclusion evaluated the prototype content and took part in semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis. The study revealed common themes relating to pedagogical validity, reflective and metacognitive benefits, relational and dialogic capacities, and the necessity of incorporating tutors into blended professional development initiatives. Concurrently, experts emphasized essential conditions for sustainable implementation, including using accessible language, requiring a feasible time commitment, providing clear information about data use, and establishing explicit connections between digital reflection and in-person collaborative activities.

Given these insights, the project is now progressing into a pilot phase. The tutor will be trialed with trainee teachers enrolled in the Primary Education Science program at Sapienza University of Rome. During a dedicated workshop, students will engage with the tutor to reflect on their internship experiences and complete a structured questionnaire regarding usability, as well as a brief open-ended survey on perceived usefulness and emotional safety. The data from these two preliminary phases will be presented at the conference.

The study exemplifies how AI-facilitated reflection can also aid conventional teacher training to foster inclusive professional identities. Additionally, it offers practical guidance for institutions aiming to incorporate conversational technologies into teacher training while remaining pedagogically sound, ethically responsible, and closely tied to real classroom practices.

Keywords:

Teachers' training, self-efficacy, inclusion, education, tutor-AI, reflective practice.