Cornell University will offer its AI Critical Literacy Program to all incoming students this fall following a pilot that university officials said improved participants' understanding of generative artificial intelligence.
The Canvas-based program will also be available to other interested students, faculty and staff and will cover how generative AI works, ethical questions, its role in learning and the creation of personal AI-use policies.
The Center for Teaching Innovation developed the program with Cornell University Library. Faculty members across disciplines tested the pilot in courses that included writing, business, biology, engineering, economics, communication and information science.
Rob Vanderlan, executive director of the teaching center, said the pilot produced gains in students' understanding of large language models and encouraged them to reflect on how their use of AI affected learning.
Faculty members may adapt the four modules for first-year classes and advising seminars. University officials said the material is designed for people with different levels of AI experience and varying views on its use.
The expansion comes as instructors continue to weigh how AI tools can support learning and what guardrails may be needed in classrooms and other settings.
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