Transforming Classrooms: The role of AI literacy in redefining 21st-century learning

The ever-evolving realm of artificial intelligence (AI) is progressing rapidly, compelling educational leaders at both the school and district levels to comprehend the integration of emerging technology applications, including the utilization of generative AI (Gen AI), within educational institutions across the United States. The nature of AI, its functionality, and the potential implications it holds for students, families, educators, and the broader school community are shrouded in ambiguity.

Educational leaders grapple with challenges in leveraging AI for teaching and learning, accompanied by concerns about exacerbating existing disparities in digital technology access, thereby erecting additional structural barriers for students and communities. In our engagements with educators, students, and families, the critical importance of AI literacy has become apparent, especially for educators striving to effectively employ these technologies in support of all learners, particularly those marginalized.

Much akin to the omnipresent nature of AI in our daily lives, its influence permeates the school day and extends across various subjects. AI literacy equips educators with an understanding of how AI operates, the capacity to evaluate it, and the skills to adapt it optimally for their disciplines and learners. Furthermore, demystifying AI fosters productive and responsible engagement with AI technologies in broader society, personal lives, and professional careers. At Digital Promise, we emphatically assert that AI literacy serves as the foundational step, closely interwoven with our Digital Equity initiatives.

What constitutes AI literacy?

AI literacy encompasses 21st-century skills, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. It builds upon the groundwork laid in Digital and Media Literacy and Computational Thinking, encompassing elements of computer science, ethics, and extending beyond science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The skills and practices essential for interacting with AI are applicable across all disciplines. Crucially, AI has the potential to redefine the learning landscape within a specific discipline, introducing innovative teaching strategies and applications for concepts. For example, students might involve themselves in training a machine learning system to identify patterns in a math class or experiment with a text-to-speech system to distinguish between homonyms in English Language Arts.

In addition to disciplinary concepts, addressing areas such as the judicious use and timing of AI, the historical context of AI development, mitigating biases, safeguarding the privacy of data shared with AI systems/tools, ensuring equitable access to AI tools, and considering environmental and human labor considerations is imperative.

As we navigate the integration of AI into education, a comprehensive approach to AI literacy is pivotal for fostering a knowledgeable, adaptable, and ethically responsible generation prepared to harness the potential of AI in diverse fields and contexts.