AI Literacy for K–12 Students: A Guide for Educators

What Is AI Literacy?

The simplest definition of AI literacy is an understanding of what AI is and how it works. 

Digital Promise defines AI literacy as “the knowledge and skills that enable humans to critically understand, evaluate and use AI systems and tools to safely and ethically participate in an increasingly digital world.” 

Bryan Twarek, head of innovation and research at the Computer Science Teachers Association, believes the definition should include a technological component. Understanding how the AI model was developed — including the explicit or implicit biases it may have acquired in its creation — allows users to critically evaluate the output. 

“If we’re examining criminal justice data, for example, we know there are a lot of biases in play in our society. So, if we’re training on existing data, we’re going to perpetuate those inequities and biases,” explains Twarek. “There’s this notion that technology creates a neutral space, but it’s based on the values of the creators and the data.”

Pati Ruiz, director of learning technology research at Digital Promise, points out that AI literacy includes knowing when it’s appropriate to incorporate the technology into a workflow or assignment. Students must understand that the tools don’t replace the process of learning a new concept.

“Generative AI doesn’t replace their need to do critical thinking and struggle with learning,” says Ruiz. “Learning takes time, and GenAI is not going to speed that up.”

The Importance of AI Literacy for Students

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong and The Education University of Hong Kong discovered a gap in the existing frameworks for teaching AI literacy. 

“We saw a critical need to move beyond the hype of AI as a purely technical skill and address the urgent human questions it raises,” says Ming Ma, a Ph.D. candidate, researcher and instructional designer at the University of Hong Kong.

These questions explore what it means to use AI responsibly, which, as Twarek points out, can help prevent the perpetuation of biases or widening of inequity gaps.

“Our research began with a central question: If we are going to teach children about AI, how do we ensure we are cultivating responsible, ethical citizens and not just proficient users?” Ma says. 

The researchers created a framework that weaves ethics into education. Their research also highlights a foundational truth of technology: It’s ever-changing. If a school’s curriculum is only teaching students skills on the newest tools, that knowledge could be obsolete by the time they enter the workforce.

“Without AI literacy, students risk becoming overly reliant on tools they don’t understand,” says Twarek.

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Additionally, Twarek notes, AI literacy means understanding the environmental consequences of using AI. AI tools have a tremendous carbon footprint and require a significant amount of water for cooling. As the future of the workforce, today’s students should be aware of these consequences so they can make informed decisions.

How To Teach AI Literacy Lessons

No special tools are required to begin teaching AI literacy lessons in a K–12 setting. However, educators do require sufficient training. To facilitate AI literacy, teachers need to understand AI too.

“Professional development in this area is critical,” says Ma. “It empowers teachers to move beyond using the technology to facilitating crucial conversations about its implications.”

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The foundational concepts of AI literacy will be the same for elementary students as they are for high schoolers, but the level of detail in lessons changes, as does students’ access to the technology, says Twarek: “From a young age, you work to develop foundational knowledge, so when students start using technology, they’re better able to critically evaluate outputs.”

AI has enabled research and capabilities that did not exist previously, but it’s imperative for students to remain creative and curious, and to learn when the tools should be introduced as well as how to scrutinize the product. That is where AI literacy makes a difference.