Hi, I'm Emily Bailey from Towson University, and my presentation shares how we're pioneering AI literacy education through our first-year seminar program. As AI becomes ubiquitous in academic and professional settings, we recognize that our students need foundational skills early in their college experience—not just technical know-how, but ethical frameworks and practical applications for responsible AI use.
Our twofold approach addresses this need. First, we're implementing "Ethics of AI Use" modules covering academic integrity, citations and attribution, privacy and security, and social and environmental responsibility for all incoming first-year students. Second, we're piloting a common AI-based information literacy assignment across multiple first-year seminar sections, teaching students to critically evaluate AI-generated content alongside traditional sources.
This isn't just about keeping up with technology, it's about preparing graduates for a workforce that will expect digital literacy while ensuring they can use these powerful new tools ethically and effectively. We hope that our early intervention model will create a foundation that benefits students throughout their time at TU and beyond.