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AI Literacy
Pedagogical Foundations
What´s AI Literacy?
Artificial Intelligence is becoming part of everyday life. It influences how we learn, communicate, create, search for information and make decisions.
At SMAILE, we understand AI Literacy as the ability to:
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Understand how AI systems work
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Use AI tools creatively and responsibly
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Uvaluate AI-generated information critically
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Identify misinformation and bias
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Protect privacy and digital identity
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Collaborate ethically with AI technologies
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Understand the social and environmental impact of AI
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Make informed human decisions in an AI-driven world
AI Literacy is not only technological. It is also ethical, creative, social and human.
Why AI Litteracy matters
AI technologies are rapidly transforming:
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Education
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Communication
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Creativity
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Employment
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Media
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Social interaction
Students need competences that help them:
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Navigate digital environments safely
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Think critically
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Participate responsibly
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Adapt to future changes
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Remain creative and reflective human beings
Schools have an essential role in preparing students for this new reality.
Human-Centred AI
At SMAILE, we promote a human-centred approach to AI.
We believe that:
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Teachers remain essential
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Creativity is human
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Empathy cannot be automated
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Critical thinking must always guide technology use
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AI should support inclusion and well-being
Technology should support humanity, not replace it.
AI Literacy Framework
Understanding AI
Students will understand:
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What AI is
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How AI systems learn
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How algorithms process information
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How generative AI creates content
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What AI can and cannot do
Competence 1
Ethical & Responsible Use
Students will explore:
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Privacy
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Copyright
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Transparency
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Digital safety
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Responsible prompting
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Fairness and inclusion
Critical Thinking
Students will develop the ability to:
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Verify information
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Detect hallucinations
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Compare sources
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Identify misinformation
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Recognise stereotypes and bias
Competence 2
Competence 3
Creativity & Innovation
Students will use AI tools for:
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Music
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Storytelling
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Visual art
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Design
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Multimedia creation
Digital Citizenship
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Online behaviour
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Algorithmic influence
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Digital identity
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Media literacy
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Responsible participation online
Competence 4
Competence 5
Sustainability & Society
Students will reflect on:
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Environmental impact of AI
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Energy consumption
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AI for sustainability
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Social impact of automation
Competence 6
Collaboration and Communication
Competence 7
The SMAILE AI Literacy Framework defines the key competences students and teachers develop throughout the project.
Our framework combines: technological understanding, ethical awareness, creativity, critical thinking, sustainability, digital citizenship, collaboration.
AI risks & challengues
Artificial Intelligence offers many opportunities, but also important risks and challenges.
AI Literacy includes understanding both benefits and limitations.
Bias and fairness
AI systems learn from human-created data.
Because of this, they may reproduce:
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Stereotypes
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Inequalities
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Cultural bias
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Gender bias
Students should learn how to recognise and question unfair representations
Hallucinations and misinformation
AI systems sometimes generate information that sounds convincing but is incorrect.
Students should learn:
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Why hallucinations happen
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How to verify information
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How to compare reliable sources
Privacy and Data Protection
Students and teachers should understand:
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What personal data is
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Why digital privacy matters
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How platforms collect data
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How to protect personal information online
Overdependence on AI
AI can support learning, but students should continue developing:
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Independent thinking
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Creativity
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Reflection
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Problem-solving skills
Environmental Impact of AI
AI systems require:
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Large amounts of data
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Computational power
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Energy consumption
Students explore sustainable and responsible technology use.
Teacher AI pathway
Begginer
Build confidence and reduce fear around AI.
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What is AI?
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Basic AI tools
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First classroom activities
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Privacy and safety
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Ethical foundations
Intermediate Level
Integrate AI meaningfully into classroom practice.
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Cross-curricular projects
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Creative AI activities
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Assessment strategies
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AI-supported collaboration
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Prompt engineering
Advanced Level
Develop leadership in AI education.
Suggested modules:
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AI and educational policy
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Critical AI pedagogy
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Student-led innovation
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Ethical leadership
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Human-centred AI education
References & Educational frameworks
European frameworks
SMAILE is inspired by international and European frameworks promoting ethical, inclusive and human-centred Artificial Intelligence education.
Our pedagogical approach aligns with UNESCO recommendations, the European DigCompEdu framework and emerging OECD-European Commission AI Literacy initiatives.
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UNESCO
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European Commission
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OECD
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DigCompEdu
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AI Literacy Framework
Academic Advisory and Expert Support
The SMAILE project has been supported and academically advised by experts in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science Education and Human-Centred AI from leading European universities.
We are especially grateful for the guidance and inspiration provided by Dr Keith Quille from Technological University Dublin and Dr Kristijan Lenac from University of Rijeka.
Their expertise in:
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science Education
Machine Learning
Human-centred digital education
AI research and innovation
has contributed significantly to the pedagogical and ethical development of the SMAILE project and its AI Literacy approach.
SMAILE promotes a collaborative bridge between schools, teachers, researchers and universities in order to ensure that AI education remains innovative, ethical and human-centred.