The 5 dimensions of AI literacy

Key points:

• The workforce is evolving–students must demonstrate AI literacy for success
• A new era for teachers as AI disrupts instruction
• 5 ways kids will learn about careers in 2025
• For more news on AI competency, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub

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 higher-ed 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.

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While the framework is targeted to higher education, K-12 students are developing AI skills and will need competencies as they enter higher education or the workforce.

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