Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, has quickly secured a permanent place in study and work. But how can you use it responsibly and effectively? The new AI Literacy Companion provides VU Amsterdam students with practical guidelines, explores ethical and societal dilemmas, and offers lecturers tools for integrating AI into their teaching.
The book is available via Canvas since 15 September. Both as a course with exercises and as a downloadable PDF. Tip for lecturers: use the book in your lectures, refer to it on Canvas, or incorporate its exercises.
Relevant for every student
“We deliberately wrote the book to be useful for all students, regardless of their study programme,” says Dr Ir. Silvester Draaijer of the VU Centre for Teaching and Learning (VU CTL). “It serves as a broad introduction on which programmes can build further, making it relevant for disciplines ranging from law and psychology to chemistry and communication science.”
Step-by-step guides, tool overviews and practical tips
“We start with the question ‘what exactly is generative AI?’ and end with ethical dilemmas and future perspectives. In between, students learn where AI raises societal and academic integrity issues, and which factors play a role. AI can support you, but you need to know when to use it, when not to, and (most importantly) how.”
The book also offers practical applications: how AI can support literature research, writing, and data analysis. “So it’s both ethically formative and practically useful, complete with step-by-step guides, tool overviews and concrete tips for students.”
Canvas course with interactive elements
In addition to the PDF version, there is a Canvas course with interactive exercises and discussion assignments. “Students can read about AI literacy and also practise with it. For example, we integrated chatbots that allow students to discuss the chapter content,” Draaijer explains. “For your course, you could enrol students in the Canvas version or request a copy to adapt for your own use. In that case, please contact us at onderwijswerkplaats@vu.nl.”
Regular updates
What makes the book unique is that it is a ‘living document’. Every six months, a new version will be released. “AI technology, and the way we think about it, develops at lightning speed. A book that is outdated after a year helps no one. With regular updates, we stay relevant.”
The authors are also transparent: the book clearly shows which AI-tools they used themselves. “We practise what we preach,” says Draaijer.
Call for feedback
Help improve the AI Literacy Companion! You can share your feedback via onderwijswerkplaats@vu.nl or directly in the course environment.
