REIMAGINING THE LIS CURRICULUM: INTEGRATING GENERATIVE AI AND MACHINE LEARNING IN TEACHER TRAINING AT KADUNA STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, GIDAN WAYA

Abstract

The rapid emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Machine Learning (ML) is fundamentally transforming the global information landscape, creating an urgent imperative for curriculum reform in Library and Information Science (LIS) teacher training programs within Nigerian Colleges of Education. This conceptual study explores the strategic integration of GenAI and ML into LIS teacher education, grounded in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. Key areas for curricular renewal include automation of technical services (cataloging, metadata generation), AI-driven reference services, and algorithmic transparency ethics. Significant barriers identified include faculty AI knowledge gaps, inadequate digital infrastructure, and lack of structured pedagogical guidelines. The study recommends that successful integration requires a multi level approach: updating course content to include prompt engineering and data science, establishing AI-experiential labs for hands-on teacher training, and embedding ethical AI literacy as a core competency. The paper also recommends consistent professional development for in-service teachers and collaborative policy reform between the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and LIS stakeholders are essential. This study concludes that reimagining the LIS curriculum is not merely a technical update but a survival strategy for the profession, ensuring graduates are equipped for an AI-augmented workforce.