The main goal of the study is to investigate the implementation and perceived effects of AI literacy instruction in a large-scale, global setting.
Methods: The study involved a large-scale implementation of AI literacy instruction taught under routine conditions by teachers from various disciplines. The researchers collected data through a voluntary online questionnaire and virtual interviews with 190 implementers who taught the courses to at least 11,884 students. The study was deemed exempt from human subjects research review.
Key Findings: The study found that even with short exposure to AI literacy activities, both educators and students gained knowledge about how AI works, key AI concepts, current uses of AI, and potential benefits and harms to society. Learning more about AI increased their levels of optimism about its potential benefits and their sense of agency in shaping its future. The study also found that the majority of implementers were highly educated, mostly female, and experienced, and that most of them took time to adapt the instructional content for their local contexts.
Implications: The study's findings contribute to the field of AI in education by providing evidence that AI literacy instruction can be effective in improving students' knowledge and attitudes towards AI. The study's results also suggest that institutional adoption is needed to extend the reach of AI literacy instruction beyond highly-motivated, self-selecting educators and their students.
Limitations: The study's limitations include the self-selected nature of the sample and the self-report nature of the questionnaire and interview data.
Future Directions: The study suggests that future research should include pre- and post-course assessments for a treatment and comparison group of students, ideally randomly assigned, to more rigorously assess learning and changes in beliefs.
Title and Authors: AI Mastery May Not Be For Everyone, But AI Literacy Should Be, Fiona M. Hollands, Daniella DiPaola, Cynthia Breazeal, & Safinah Ali
Published On: December 5-8, 2024
Published By: SIGCSE Virtual 2024, December 5–8, 2024, Virtual Event, NC, USA