Project Overview:
This AI critical literacy project provides a comprehensive, structured, and accessible approach to AI education tailored specifically for introductory composition students. Created for the 2024-25 CUNY Building Bridges of Knowledge program funded by the Lumina Foundation, this curriculum supports students to use generative AI ethically and responsibly. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License so faculty can adopt it as a whole, or in parts, for their own courses.
This 20-hour, 9-lesson AI critical literacy unit for introductory composition students explores AI’s history, functionality, applications, ethics, and impact on writing and society. Through assessments, discussions, and reflections, students develop critical awareness of AI’s role in academia and beyond. The curriculum balances theory and practice, addressing academic integrity and institutional policies while fostering responsible AI use in education, business, and daily life.
Why this curriculum?
1. Unique Focus on Composition and AI Literacy
Unlike many AI literacy programs that focus solely on coding or technical aspects, this curriculum is designed for students in composition courses, emphasizing critical thinking, ethical considerations, and AI's role in writing and academia.
2. Well-Structured, Cohesive Curriculum
This nine-lesson structure provides a logical progression from foundational AI knowledge to practical applications and ethical discussions, making it digestible for students with no prior AI background.
3. Timely and Essential for Higher Education
With the rapid rise of AI in education, many institutions are struggling to develop policies and pedagogical strategies. This curriculum equips students with the critical literacy needed to navigate AI responsibly.
4. Balanced Approach: Theory, Ethics, and Practice
This curriculum overs how AI works, its historical, ethical, and societal implications. It goes beyond technicalities to explore academic integrity, AI’s influence on writing, and its role in various industries.
5. Practical, Assessment-Driven Design
With pre- and post-assessments, reflection activities, and policy discussions, this curriculum ensures that students actively engage with AI concepts while providing measurable learning outcomes.
6. Supports Institutional AI Policy Development
This curriculum helps institutions frame AI guidelines while educating students about responsible AI use in academic settings.
Lessons Include:
Prepwork: Preliminary Assessment and AI Policies
Lesson 1: What is AI?
Lesson 2: The History of AI
Lesson 3: How Does AI Work?
Lesson 4: AI in Action
Lesson 5: Academic Integrity and AI
Lesson 6: Ethics and AI
Lesson 7: Society, Medicine, Business, and Education: The Current AI Landscape
Lesson 8: The Future of AI
Lesson 9: Writing and AI
Post-Assessment and Reflection
Each lesson follows a similar structure, with some variation:
Exploring source material and an inquiry-based assignment
Small group note-taking / discussion
Whole class discussion / presentation
Low-stakes writing assignment
There are also 3 high-stakes essays and a revision/reflection essay embedded at the end of lessons 2, 5, 8, and 9.
Where Can I Access It?
You can access the Google Doc directly here and make your own copy from this file:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qrYmFVYQhdu_XmTQKaR05mqtR19698kXNjyu341cl8s/edit?usp=sharing
The Google Slides are paired with a set of Teaching Notes, which you can access here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gmcBb83g_9Gsc6jnzCCehQUxPyOneXA1mazb_7--CIQ/edit?usp=sharing
You can also access it here, in CUNY Academic Works: