AI literacy brings together the knowledge, skills, and attitudes teachers need to engage meaningfully with artificial intelligence. In my recent book AI in Teaching: Practical Strategies for Integrating AI in the Classroom, I unpacked each of these three elements—what I like to call the AI literacy trio. Developing AI literacy is no longer optional; every educator needs to cultivate it to navigate today’s changing educational landscape.
To start with, knowledge is about understanding the foundations of AI: how it works, how models are trained, and where their limitations lie. It’s what allows you to see beyond the surface of AI tools and understand the reasoning—or lack thereof—behind their outputs. Skills, on the other hand, involve using AI thoughtfully and responsibly: prompting, evaluating, fact-checking, designing AI-supported lessons, and managing data ethically. Finally, attitudes are about mindset. Building AI literacy requires an explorative and open attitude, one that welcomes learning, unlearning, and rethinking what teaching and learning can look like in an AI-driven world.
In this post, the focus is on the knowledge element of AI literacy. One of the best ways to strengthen this foundation is to read credible, research-based guides and reports. I emphasize “credible” because the internet is full of AI-generated material that looks polished but offers little value. In an age where anyone can generate a guide in minutes, curating high-quality, evidence-informed resources has become just as important as reading them.
As part of my work in AI research, I come across a wide range of literature and maintain a dedicated Zotero library where I organize trustworthy publications in this field. From time to time, I share selections from that library across my platforms to help educators find reliable entry points into AI literacy. In my book, I also devoted an entire chapter—AI for Professional Development—to listing reputable guides, courses, websites, and books that teachers can use to grow their knowledge and confidence.
For this post, I’ve selected several key AI literacy guides—some featured here for the first time—that educators can explore to deepen their understanding. Each one is freely available for download and provides practical insights to help you build your knowledge base and strengthen your professional practice in the age of AI.
1. Empowering Learners for the Age of AI, by the European Commission and OECD
This framework focuses on helping primary and secondary educators introduce AI literacy in classrooms. It emphasizes giving students a practical understanding of how AI works, its everyday uses, and its broader social and ethical implications. The draft proposes a structured approach for teaching AI through inquiry, problem-solving, and collaboration, helping learners not only use AI but also question and shape it responsibly.
2. AI and the Future of Education: Disruptions, Dilemmas, and Directions, by UNESCO
This report looks at how artificial intelligence is reshaping education systems worldwide. It examines key challenges—equity, privacy, and ethics—while also highlighting opportunities for improving access and personalization. The publication invites policymakers and educators to reflect on how to balance innovation with human values, ensuring AI complements rather than replaces the teacher’s role.
3. Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations, by the U.S. Office of Educational Technology
This report brings together insights from educators, researchers, and technologists on the responsible integration of AI in American schools. It outlines guiding principles for using AI to enhance teaching and learning, emphasizing human-centered design, transparency, and educator agency. The document serves as both a roadmap and a cautionary guide for schools seeking to adopt AI in ways that strengthen—not compromise—educational integrity.
4. Empowering Education Leaders: A Toolkit for Safe, Ethical, and Equitable AI Integration, by the U.S. Office of Educational Technology
This toolkit helps school and district leaders create thoughtful strategies for bringing AI into education. It outlines practical steps for building responsible policies, engaging stakeholders, and safeguarding equity in AI adoption. The document highlights how leadership decisions shape not only technology use but also the culture of trust and transparency around AI in schools.
5. A Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed, by educators, for educators
Written collaboratively by practicing teachers and school leaders, this guide offers grounded, classroom-focused perspectives on AI. It unpacks common questions and misconceptions, provides real examples of how educators are experimenting with AI tools, and encourages reflective dialogue across school communities. The tone is candid and supportive, aimed at helping educators find clarity amid the noise surrounding AI in education.
6. AI Literacy: A Framework to Understand, Evaluate, and Use Emerging Technology, by Kelly Mills, Pati Ruiz, Keun-woo Lee, Merijke Coenraad, Judi Fusco, Jeremy Roschelle, and Josh Weisgrau (Digital Promise)
This framework from Digital Promise sets out to define what it means to be AI-literate in education. It identifies key competencies—understanding how AI works, evaluating its credibility and ethics, and applying it thoughtfully in learning contexts. The report bridges research and practice, showing how educators can guide students toward critical, informed, and creative engagement with AI technologies.
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