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The LNDL Research & Learning Program

What is AI Literacy?

According to researchers Long & Magerko (2020) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, AI literacy is the ability to:

  • critically evaluate AI technologies
  • communicate and collaborate effectively with AI
  • use AI as a tool, online, at home, and in the workplace

AI Literacy is having the skills and competencies enabling individuals to use AI technologies and applications; communicate and collaborate effectively with AI; and question AI design and implementation while critically evaluating the information produced. 

Being “AI literate” is the ability to understand, use, and reflect critically on AI applications without necessarily being able to create and develop AI models like someone with a computer science background. Understanding how to use AI as a tool to enhance your work is how you become AI literate.

AI Literacy Instruction at LNDL

LNDL currently offers AI literacy instruction in multiple modes:

  • General AI Literacy introductory session (50 minutes)
  • Discipline-specific AI literacy sessions (e.g., AI tools useful for historical research)
  • Self-paced online modules that can be embedded directly into Moodle or Canvas
    • Links to the modules are in the section below

AI Literacy support at LNDL shows students not only how to use and consider the context of a tool, but the importance of evaluating AI tools in the future that haven't even been invented yet. Students consider reliability, ethical considerations, and other crucial aspects of integrating AI into their academic and professional lives.

Generative AI has been added to our discussions of source evaluations in existing research and information literacy sessions. LNDL librarians are "neutral" about encouraging or discouraging students to use AI tools. Our aim is to get students to think critically about why and when to use tools, but we stress that they need to check with their professors about how and whether to use AI for a specific assignment or course.

Artificial Intelligence Literacy Digital Modules

Loyola University of Maryland Courses

Notre Dame of Maryland University Courses