What is the Research Telling Us About AI Literacy?
It’s AI Literacy Day and episode 10 of Make EdTech 100, so we’re digging into a big question: what does the research actually say about AI literacy?
In this episode, I break down key studies to uncover what we’re learning about how people use AI, what happens when they don’t understand it, and why AI literacy is quickly becoming a must-have, not a nice-to-have. We’ll look at surprising findings like why lower AI literacy can lead to more AI use, what happens when teachers are given the right guidance, and the growing gap between students using AI and actually knowing how to use it well.
We’ll also explore when AI literacy should start (hint: much earlier than most people think), what effective instruction looks like, and what students themselves are asking for when it comes to AI in the classroom.
If you’ve been wondering how to move beyond the hype and make sense of AI in education, this episode connects the research to real classroom practice—and makes the case for why AI literacy belongs at the core of learning, not on the sidelines.
What is AI Literacy? Competencies and Design Considerations: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3313831.3376727
Lower Artificial Intelligence Literacy Predicts Greater AI Receptivity: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00222429251314491
ChatGPT in lesson preparation - A Teacher Choices Trial: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/chatgpt-in-lesson-preparation-a-teacher-choices-trial/
The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on students' cognitive abilities: a systematic review: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40561-024-00316-7
The Usage of AI in Teaching and Students’ Creativity: The Mediating Role of Learning Engagement and the Moderating Role of AI Literacy: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12109026/
AI-driven language learning in higher education: an empirical study on self-reflection, creativity, anxiety, and emotional resilience in EFL learners: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-05817-5
Exploring How AI Literacy and Self-Regulated Learning Relate to Student Writing Performance and Well-Being in Generative AI-Supported Higher Education: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12108985/
AI4K12 Initiative (CSTA & AAAI) — the grade-band progression framework referenced ai4k12.org
AI Literacy in K-12: A Systematic Literature Review"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40594-023-00418-7
A Systematic Review of AI Education in K-12 Classrooms from 2018 to 2023: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X24000122
AI in K-12 Education: A Systematic Review of Teachers' Professional Development Needs: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/15/1/49
A Systematic Review of Responses, Attitudes, and Utilization Behaviors on Generative AI for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12023922/
