Teaching and Learning Services has launched online modules that will help students prepare for a future with AI (Photo by Ticha/stock.adobe.com)
In a world where technology is rapidly evolving, artificial intelligence (AI) is seemingly everywhere, transforming many aspects of our daily lives. From using smart thermostats or robot vacuums in our homes, to offering virtual reality simulations in university courses, to automating tasks in the workplace, AI is changing the way we live, learn and work.
To help prepare students for this new wave of technology, Teaching and Learning Services has launched online learning experiences that foster knowledge, skills and confidence in AI and digital literacy.
These new modules are part of FUSION, an initiative that aims to bridge academic and employability skills. They will teach students how to identify accurate information online, manage their digital footprint and use AI effectively and ethically.
“AI is revolutionizing and reshaping our society, and we need to make sure our students are ready so they can thrive, not only academically, but in their personal and professional lives going forward,” says Vice Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic), David Hornsby.
“These modules, and the FUSION program as a whole, are invaluable in our mission to develop the next generation of citizen scholars and professional leaders.”
Each module takes about four hours to complete. Instructors can incorporate any of the modules directly into their courses, while students also have the option to self-enroll in any module and complete it at their own pace.
Carleton University history professor Dominique Marshall incorporated the FUSION AI literacy module into her graduate seminar (Photo by Chris Roussakis)
Dominique Marshall, a professor in Carleton’s Department of History, incorporated the AI literacy module in her graduate seminar this past fall. She hoped that an explicit discussion of ethics would help students assess their current practices and identify any apprehensions they had about AI.
“I was interested by the fact that graduate students were often less familiar with generative AI, that diligent students were often more reluctant to use it, and that there should be ways to help all students go beyond the – now obsolete – idea that AI means plagiarism and should be avoided,” she says. “These discussions have to happen, and the fact that we have dedicated course time to do this together, and in conversation, is valuable.”
Once her students completed the AI literacy module, she had them apply their skills in a project using Microsoft Copilot. She says the module gave students a vocabulary to address worries and hopes they might have had about generative AI and that it helped them become more aware of the privacy implications and precautions that need to be taken when using these tools.
Megan Hurtado, a fourth-year biology student, finished the AI literacy module this year and agrees that it helped her see the importance in critically evaluating AI-generated content.
“My AI literacy skills have improved significantly, especially in evaluating the transparency and fairness of AI-generated content,” she says. “I’ve become more critical of biases in outputs, more mindful of privacy considerations and better at ensuring that AI applications avoid harm.”
She says she can now use the skills she’s developed to enhance her research and lab work. She plans to leverage AI tools to brainstorm projects, analyze data and help with literature reviews.
The FUSION AI and digital literacy modules will teach students how to identify accurate information online, manage their digital footprint and use AI effectively and ethically (Photo by Bryan Gagnon)
It’s not just Carleton students who will benefit from these learning opportunities. Plans are underway at Ericsson and Ross Video to pilot the modules with students who intern or are on co-op placements with their companies.
Lorraine Godden, FUSION national implementation lead, says the modules will help students become more efficient and effective learners, while building their work and life-readiness.
“All kinds of digital tools and software, including AI, are increasingly used in a variety of ways across all areas of our society, from automating routine tasks, to streamlining workflows and facilitating communication and collaboration. But you need digital skills to capitalize on this,” she says. “We need to provide students with appropriate skills development to ensure they can deploy these tools effectively and responsibly.”
In addition to AI and digital literacy, FUSION offers eight other modules on topics such as adaptability, communication and inclusivity. Three additional modules are in development and will be released over the course of the next year. Over 1,600 students have completed at least one module since the program launched in 2020.