AI Literacy: What Educators Need to Know

Build a practical mental model of generative AI: what it does, what it does not know, why outputs vary, and why human judgement remains central.

• AI is a system, not a mind — Replace human-like metaphors with a more useful mental model of pattern-based generation.
• Generated does not mean retrieved — Understand why an AI response can sound authoritative even when it is inaccurate.
• Outputs depend on context — See prompts, system instructions, connected tools and conversation history as part of the output.
• Keep human agency visible — Use AI to extend capability without quietly moving responsibility away from people.
• AI literacy is a judgement practice — Move beyond vocabulary toward the ability to choose, question and sometimes decline AI use.