Educator-Centric Sustainable Digital Integration: Self-Efficacy, Technology Readiness, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trust as Predictors of Technology Acceptance for Quality Education in Teaching Environments

Abstract

In the midst of unprecedented digitization in education, the current research investigates the critical factors governing educators’ behavioral intention, acceptance, and adoption of educational technology in classroom environments. Grounded in established technology acceptance theories and pedagogical frameworks, the study examines five key constructs: Self-Efficacy, Technology Readiness, Trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Pedagogical Beliefs, and Facilitating Conditions. A quantitative research approach was employed, with data collected from 320 educators through structured questionnaires. Discriminant analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships among the variables and identify the strongest predictors of technology acceptance and adoption. The findings reveal that Self-Efficacy and Technology Readiness significantly influence educators’ intention to integrate technology into teaching practices. Trust in AI further strengthens this intention, particularly among educators with higher levels of readiness. Among all variables, Facilitating Conditions emerged as the strongest predictor of actual technology adoption, highlighting the importance of institutional support, infrastructure, and access to digital resources. Furthermore, Pedagogical Beliefs and Trust in AI demonstrated moderating effects on the relationship between intention and adoption. The study contributes to the advancement of educational technology adoption models while offering practical implications for educational leaders and policymakers. Importantly, the findings support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by promoting sustainable digital transformation, inclusive technology-enhanced learning environments, and equitable access to innovative educational opportunities that strengthen teaching effectiveness and lifelong learning outcomes.