Building Educator AI Literacy
Reading Time: 3 minutes
AI literacy is understanding, using, and critically evaluating AI technologies and their implications for various domains and contexts (Ng et al., 2021). Building AI literacy can help faculty to know more about the functions and limitations of generative AI, shift their teaching practices to incorporate AI, and keep up with the latest developments in AI and education.
Along with virtual workshops, micro-credential courses, and Sharepoint site for Using Generative AI at Conestoga, here is a selection of ways that faculty can build their own AI literacy as educators.
Learning
Learn about Copilot from LinkedIn Learning, free for Conestoga employees and students.
- Streamlining-your-work-with-copilot-formerly-bing-chat-bing-chat-enterprise
- Copilot-for-windows-leveraging-your-PC’s-ai-assistant
Take a free online tutorial on the basics of generative AI.
- Generative AI Fundamentals by IBM covers the fundamentals of generative AI.
- Google’s Generative AI Learning Path is 10 courses introducing generative AI basics.
- AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit by TeachAI provides guidance and resources, which focuses on K-12 education but may be adapted for post-secondary.
Look up unfamiliar terminology using Ultimate Generative AI Glossary (AIPRM, 2024), which provides simple definitions of 200+ AI-related concepts and terms.*
Exploring
Start using Microsoft Copilot (log in with your Conestoga ID/password). If you have difficulty, contact IT.
Explore more AI tools for creating lessons, learning activities, and more.
- ChatGPT – OpenAI is a chatbot. Free and paid subscriptions are available.
- GitHub Copilot is a cloud-based AI tool developed by GitHub and OpenAI to assist users of Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, Neovim, and JetBrains integrated development environments (IDEs) by autocompleting code. Free and paid subscriptions are available.
- DALL·E 2 – OpenAI, developed by OpenAI, generates images from text prompts. Paid subscription is available. Other tools (e.g., GenCraft) may offer free options.
- Speechify lets you convert any text into natural-sounding voices. Trial and paid subscription.
Remember, use your own personal device and ensure the security of your information, especially when signing up for third-party tools. If you have concerns, ask Conestoga an AI Question.
Prompting
Learn to craft and practice with effective prompts when using AI tools for better results.
- How to Create Effective AI Prompts for Your Learning Journey (Khan Academy): A guide on how to create effective AI prompts for any platform.
- Effective Prompts for AI: The Essentials (MIT Sloan): An introduction to crafting effective prompts so that you maximize your benefits from AI.
- The Art of AI Prompt Crafting: A Comprehensive Guide for Enthusiasts (OpenAI): A guide that aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge to craft effective AI prompts.
- Master AI writing prompts: 2024’s ultimate guide (cohesive.so): A guide that unveils 2024’s AI writing prompt trends and helps you dominate your niche.
- Top AI Prompt Generators: Unlock your Creativity (murf.ai): A detailed analysis of what AI prompt generators are and insight into the top AI prompt generators.
Reading
Review resources with a higher education focus on integrating AI into teaching and learning.
- McMaster University’s Generative AI for Educators provides educators with practical advice, resources, and training to integrate generative AI into their teaching practices.
- Wilfrid Laurier’s Guide to Teaching, Learning and Assessment provides a comprehensive guide for planning, building, and teaching a course.
- Trent’s Teaching & Learning AI Resources offers resources for teaching and learning with AI in higher education.
- Cornell’s Generative Artificial Intelligence provides an in-depth understanding of generative AI and its impact on education.
- Rutger’s Teaching Critical AI Literacies offers help to instructors making informed decisions and facilitating productive discussions with students.
Receiving
Sign up for newsletters to have AI news and information sent right to your email.
- Dr. Phil’s Newsletter: Connecting the science of learning & AI with the art of learning experience design.
- AI + Education = Simplified: A newsletter by Lance Eaton that describes what’s going on in genAI and higher education.
- Ben’s Bites: A newsletter that tracks the web, covering top product launches, research, and news in AI.
- TLDR: A daily newsletter with links and TLDRs of the most interesting stories in AI, machine learning, and data science.
While not a newsletter, Professor Ethan Mollick’s One Useful Thing blog aims to translate academic research into useful insights, focusing on AI.
What’s Next
- Consider how you will approach and discuss using generative AI in learning activities and assessments with students.
- Submit an AI Experiment when you are ready to experiment with genAI and are looking for support.
- See what Conestoga faculty are reading and recommending. If you have a resource for AI literacy that’s not listed here, share it in the Teaching at Conestoga Artificial Intelligence (AI) channel!
*This resource was suggested by the STEM club for girls, Fullers Library.
