Kristi Zappie-Ferradino

AI in Digital Skills Training: Insights from Community Leaders

As AI continues to reshape our world, community organizations are exploring how to bring this technology into digital skills programs in ways that are practical, safe, and empowering for the communities they serve. Whether the students are high schoolers or senior citizens, urban residents or those in rural communities, AI instruction is a natural next step in the ongoing mission to close the digital divide.

To support this effort, NDIA launched an AI working group made up of leaders from diverse sectors — local government, higher education, public libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations. Together, they’ve shared strategies, challenges, and resources, culminating in a program brief: “AI in Digital Skills Programs: Insights and Perspectives from Community Leaders.”

Building an AI Learning Approach: What to Consider

The working group surfaced key considerations for organizations looking to introduce AI into their programs:

  • Access to Tools: Free and paid AI tools often have different capabilities. This impacts how learners engage both in the classroom and at home.
  • Awareness of Limitations: AI systems can reflect biases due to limited training data. Learners should understand how these limitations can affect technologies.
  • Realistic Expectations: It’s essential to help learners understand AI’s strengths and limitations so they can make informed judgments.
  • Avoiding Over-Reliance: AI can be a great support, but learners should develop core skills and not rely solely on AI—especially for tasks like job applications or formal writing.

Choosing the Right Instructional Materials

AI instruction should be tailored to your audience—whether it’s job seekers, seniors, or general users. To help with this, the working group created an Instructional Materials Rubric that evaluates resources based on content quality, relevance, usability, and credibility. Practitioners are encouraged to adapt the rubric to fit their learners’ unique needs.

Below are examples of how different resources measure up using the rubric, particularly for workshops targeting adult beginners:

  • Citizen Literacy (University of Louisville): Offers videos and classroom activities well-suited for adults new to AI. Some materials may need minor adaptation for accessibility and reading level.
  • News Literacy Project: Provides ready-to-use resources (quizzes, videos, lesson plans) focused on misinformation and AI. Highly adaptable and engaging for all learners.
  • 2Life Communities: A practical slide deck for teaching seniors how to use ChatGPT. Best used when paired with foundational lessons on how AI works.
  • DataCamp Blog: Offers beginner-friendly overviews like “What is AI?” However, the content is designed to market courses and may need review for bias or AI-generated text.
  • Senior Planet (AARP): Includes a downloadable guide, infographics, and Spanish-language materials. Designed for adults 50+, but adaptable for wider audiences.

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