AI, short for "artificial intelligence," can be thought of as the use of technology to simulate processes that mimic human thought. AI is a broad field, with many sorts of applications. While it entered widespread adoption in the past few years, researchers have been studying AI for decades. Today, AI often refers to "generative AI," which generate media such as text or images based on prompts, but AI is also embedded in search engines, algorithms, and more.
Information literacy refers to the skills involved in finding and assessing information. This skillset is vital in the Information Age, where information is abundant—and misinformation likewise. There are many ways that information can be taught, with different "tests" or frameworks that students can learn to validate resources. One framework is the Information Literacy Framework for Higher Education, which was created by American College and Research Libraries (ACRL).
When teachers talk about AI, they are often referring to generative AI, particularly AI that creates text. This is not the only way AI is used, however! Beyond the ways it's integrated into other tools, generative AI can be used for text, art (such as the Magic tools in Canva), video, music (Suno), and more.
Generative AI uses datasets, and based on what's in that dataset, it interprets the data and provides results that mimic what it's seen before. For this reason, AI can have bias. AI can also not be truly "creative," given that its works are derivative of preexisting content. These facts have inspired concerns on ethics and copyright.
On blog Cult of Pedagogy, writer Chris Mah called ChatGPT an "example machine" and shared ways it can be used to create sample texts, questions, and more. This is a prime example of a teacher-focused use of AI. A look at Edutopia's tag on AI shares even more ideas!
If you're still wondering what AI can do, check out There's an AI for That, a site that aggregates various AI tools. Just practice digital literacy as you browse, as tools have not been vetted, and your privacy is important!
Still not enough? Check out this massive living document of AI resources.
If you are using AI in your class, or even disallowing it, it's helpful to have a discussion with your students so that everyone understands what you mean by "use" of a tool.
Does using AI include brainstorming ideas for a thesis statement, or is it using Grammarly's rewriting functions? If you're not sure, then students won't be either!
A post on Edutopia, "Student Use of AI: A Helpful Framework," shares ways to encourage student AI use with integrity. It offers a framework—presented as a flowchart—that walks students through the decision of using AI, and how to do so responsibly.
The free AI Literacy course from Common Sense Education is an excellent resource both for students, but also curious faculty. It not only looks at what AI is, but also has lessons on AI use and ethics that can complement your course's policies and stance on using AI.
One of the lessons, "Artificial Intelligence: Is It Plagiarism?" speaks to the concerns many faculty have about AI-generated texts. Note that only teachers can sign up for accounts, but the lesson plans are available after login. You may want to supplement additional readings such as news articles with ones that are more current!
If you're looking for more ways to connect information literacy and AI, check out this presentation from the Innovative Library Classroom Conference, which served as inspiration for this guide.
