If you want to use AI effectively in your teaching, you’ll need the right AI skills. The recently updated AI Literacy Competencies Framework provides a useful guide for this. This framework identifies eight core areas and three competency levels: Explorer, Integrator, and Pioneer. Read below to learn how you can apply these in your own teaching.
Tip 1: discover where you stand
Before you start improving your competencies, it’s important to first assess your current AI skills. The AI Literacy Competencies Framework distinguishes between:
- The Explorer, with a basic knowledge of AI.
- The Integrator, who applies AI in teaching.
- The Pioneer, who strategically uses AI and contributes to new developments.
Want to discover where you stand? Use the AI Maturity in Education Scan (AIMES) by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Tip 2: deepen your understanding of AI basics
Are you an Explorer? Start by exploring the basics of AI, there are several ways to do this. It’s a good idea to follow a course, workshop, or webinar on AI fundamentals. Beyond that, you can also make great progress on your own. For example, identify three AI applications you use in your daily life or work and try to understand how they work. Think of facial recognition, Netflix recommendations, or grammar checkers. Also, check if you already understand the basic terminology, such as data, algorithm, and machine learning. Define the terms you don’t yet understand.
Ready to get started? Check out the courses and workshops about AI planned at VU Amsterdam or try the National AI Course (Dutch).
Tip 3: develop your critical thinking about AI
Train yourself to critically evaluate AI-related information by reading a news article about AI each day. Ask yourself questions about the context, possible biases or fallacies, and the reliability of the sources. This habit will help you better assess and interpret AI-related information.
It’s also important to understand that generative AI is heavily dependent on the data it is trained on. Take the time to explore the sources an AI system uses and the context behind them. For instance, ask questions like: what biases might be present in this data? And: which voices or perspectives might not be represented?
Tip 4: explore various AI applications in education
Expand your knowledge of AI applications in different educational contexts. Create an overview of AI tools used in your field and experiment with a new tool. Try it out yourself first to get familiar with how it works. Evaluate its advantages and disadvantages each time. This hands-on experience will help you make informed decisions about integrating AI into your teaching.
How can you do this? Read the article Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing our teaching and learning or explore the SURF community Artificial Intelligence in het onderwijs: wat is het en wat kun je ermee? (Dutch).
Tip 5: dive into AI ethics
Whether you’re an Integrator or a Pioneer, it’s always important to ask ethical questions. What about privacy? Or potential biases in algorithms? And what about copyright issues regarding the sources used to train the AI? Discuss AI ethics with your colleagues and create a list of ethical considerations for implementing AI tools in your lessons. This active approach will help you make responsible choices in your teaching practice.
What ethical, technical, and legal considerations should you consider when choosing AI? Use this checklist by the VU-UvA AI Taskforce.
Tip 6: integrate AI into your teaching
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start integrating AI into your teaching. Choose a lesson and think about how you could enhance it with an AI tool. Make sure you can clearly explain why you’re using this tool and how it aligns with your teaching goals. Ask your students for feedback on the use of AI and share your experiences with colleagues. This hands-on approach will provide valuable insights into the practical applications of AI in education.
For inspiration, explore these articles:
- 5 active learning activities to teach students to work with AI
- How to deal with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot as a teacher
Tip 7: explore AI for assessment
AI can assist you in creating and grading assessments. For example, try using AI to generate test questions or provide feedback on assignments. The AI Literacy Competencies Framework highlights that this is particularly important for Integrators and Pioneers, who need to understand both the benefits and limitations of AI in assessment processes.
Want to learn more? Read the article Creating AI-proof assessments using the two-lane approach.
Tip 8: stay up to date with AI developments
The world of AI is evolving rapidly, so it’s useful to stay informed. Subscribe to an AI-related newsletter or podcast, attend AI-focused conferences or workshops, and start a reading group with colleagues to discuss recent developments. By continuously updating your knowledge, you’ll always stay on top of the latest advancements.