Access to education, resources, and training will determine who will understand how societal use of artificial intelligence (AI) will impact them, and who will be able to safely and effectively leverage AI tools. Without AI literacy, an individual may be unable to identify or challenge unfair practices, be more susceptible to AI-aided scams, unprepared to vet answers produced by AI, unable to protect personal information, or spend time and effort working inefficiently because they do not know how to leverage AI tools.
In recognition of both the challenges and opportunities that emerge with advances in AI, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) offers support to community-based organizations to incorporate AI training into existing digital skills programs. We’re excited to share what we’ve learned so far through our partnership with WinstonNet to incorporate AI into their computer basics course.
- Core digital skills topics and learning goals have natural integration points for AI-learning. In addition to the single one-hour AI Basics module, all AI-learning was incorporated into topics already included in the course. Instructors discussed AI within applications they and students were already familiar with, allowing them to develop a foundational understanding of AI more easily.
- Students experienced shifts in their perspectives of AI and its usefulness after exposure through instruction and exploration of use cases. Some students who had misconceptions about AI, were fearful, or were unsure of how AI could be helpful experienced a shift in their perspectives after learning more about the technology and how to leverage it to support their goals.
- Discussion and reflection time reinforce learning and inspire questions about societal use. Some students took advantage of the time allotted for discussion and reflection to talk about their new understanding of AI in daily activities and their shifting perspectives of AI generally.
- Some students remain fearful or maintain misconceptions. Near the end of the course, some students referenced science fiction when asked about what came to their mind when they thought of AI. This may suggest that AI maintains a certain degree of uncertainty or mystique for these students, despite the practical exposure they gained in the class. We will continue to refine approaches to clarifying the nature of the technology.