The framework focuses on AI literacy for all, as well as specialized literacy that can be adapted to different disciplines and jurisdictions.
AI in Education

The 5 dimensions of AI literacy


The framework focuses on general AI literacy for all, as well as specialized AI literacy that can be adapted to different disciplines and jurisdictions

Key points:

AI skills are evolving from a “nice to have” to a necessity for students who hope to enter the workforce as competitive prospective employees.

The Digital Education Council, which focuses on education and innovation through collaboration between institutions and the workforce, has outlined an AI Literacy framework that takes a human-centered approach to AI literacy.

The framework prioritizes the importance of human skills, including as critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence, and offers higher-ed institutions structured guidance around creating AI literacy approaches that will equip individuals with key foundational AI competencies and industry-specific applications.

The Digital Education Council defines AI literacy as “the essential knowledge and skills needed to understand, interact with, and critically assess AI technologies. AI literacy includes the ability to use AI tools effectively and ethically, evaluate their output, ensure humans are at the core of AI, and adapt to the evolving AI landscape in both personal and professional settings.”

Organized around five dimensions of AI literacy, each dimension features three competency levels to define and characterize mastery.

Dimension 1: Understanding AI and data; how does AI work?

  • Competency level 1: AI data and awareness
  • Competency level 2: AI and data in action
  • Competency level 3: AI and data optimization

Dimension 2: Critical thinking and judgment

  • Competency level 1: Question AI output
  • Competency level 2: Evaluate AI output
  • Competency level 3: Challenge AI output

Dimension 3: Ethical and responsible use

  • Competency level 1: Understand risks
  • Competency level 2: Apply responsible practices
  • Competency level 3: Shape responsible practices

Dimension 4: Human centricity, emotional intelligence, and creativity

  • Competency level 1: Awareness of human-AI interaction
  • Competency level 2: AI as a collaborative tool
  • Competency level 3: Develop human-centered AI practices

Dimension 5: Domain expertise

  • Competency level 1: Applied AI awareness
  • Competency level 2: AI application in professional contexts
  • Competency level 3: Strategic AI leadership

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Laura Ascione
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