Critical Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacies

This a tier one of a multi-tiered professional development initiative which maintains our commitment to ensuring that staff have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to work effectively in an AI-enhanced environment. The Foundations program focuses on supporting staff to develop an informed stance with regards to AI and more specifically, generative AI (genAI), and to come along on the journey of preparing to engage with genAI in an informed and effective way.  The program covers the following topics:

• What is AI (with a focus on genAI)
• Ethics and values
• Bias and cultural considerations
• Environmental impact and sustainability
• Working with genAI

The program learning outcomes have been aligned to the OECD/European Commission AI Literacy Framework, which defines critical Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (KSAs) required for informed and effective AI engagement:

1. Explain how generative artificial intelligence tools are built and operate and compare this to human intelligence.
2. Interact with AI tools safely and effectively, demonstrating basic prompt communication and output evaluation skills.
3. Identify and analyse ethical issues in AI use including bias, misinformation, accessibility, environmental impact, and cultural safety.
4. Evaluate AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and appropriateness.
5. Justify the use of how and when AI tools should be used based on human-centred values and institutional direction.
6. Reflect metacognitively on their AI learning journey and develop personal frameworks for ongoing critical AI literacy development.
7. Apply curiosity, responsibility, empathy, adaptability and innovation in their AI application and use

On program completion, you will be able to:

• Identify opportunities to implement existing GenAI tools to enhance your professional practice, acknowledging informed use principles and institutional standards.
• In the context of your professional practice, critically evaluate GenAI processes and outputs.
• Collaborate creatively, ethically and safely with GenAI to co-create, refine, and adapt ideas or solutions.
• Communicate effectively about GenAI use in professional contexts, articulating evidence-based rationales suited for diverse stakeholders.
• Reflect on how GenAI shapes professional goals and practices, and implications for current and future use.

The next step in our AI capability journey is here! Applied Critical AI Practices (Tier 2) is now open to staff across the university who want to strengthen their responsible, ethical, and effective use of GenAI in learning and teaching.

Building on the foundational concepts introduced in Foundational Critical AI Literacies (Tier 1), this program uses persona-based activities and real professional examples, to support staff to identify how they can engage with GenAI in learning and teaching.

Whether you're already using GenAI tools or just beginning to experiment, Tier 2 offers a guided pathway to deepen your skills and apply GenAI with confidence, clarity, and critical insight.

The Foundational Critical AI Literacies program learning outcomes are informed by the OECD/European Commission AI Literacy Framework. It is also aligned to existing frameworks within the university such as the CSU Statement of Principles for the use of Artificial Intelligence and SECURE.

You will be engaging with evidence-informed content and learning activities that invite critical reflection and application of critical dispositions such as curiosity, responsibility, empathy, adaptability and innovation. These activities will help you think about how you can apply your learning to your role/context, and the integration of a personal framework and action plan activity  will allow participants to reflect on their practice and plan for future action.

The program is part of Charles Sturt’s strategic response to AI in higher education. It supports our values, mitigates risk, and builds a strong foundation for future innovation across teaching, learning, and operations.

All Charles Sturt staff — academic and professional — are encouraged to complete the module. It’s designed for all levels of AI experience, including those who are completely new to the topic.

No, you only need to bring curiosity and a willingness to reflect on how AI is shaping our world and what this means for our work.

The program takes approximately 15 hours in total to complete:

• Tier 1: Approximately 10 hours
• Tier 2: Approximately five hours

It is self-paced, so you can work through it in your own time.

The program is delivered asynchronously via Brightspace, meaning you can access and complete it whenever it suits you.

Program completion involves working through the content and learning activities, with:

• Tier 1: consisting of the five core topics (What is AI; Ethics and values; Bias and cultural considerations; Environmental impact sustainability; and Working with genAI)
• Tier 2: consisting of the five core persona‑based topics

You will also complete a mandatory pre and post program survey, and a final task.

The pre and post program survey focuses on understanding your level of readiness/awareness and the final task requires you to apply the knowledge gained in the program and identify future actions.

You will receive a digital badge and certificate at completion of each tier.

The program is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged for all academic and professional staff. It provides a valuable foundation for understanding and engaging with AI in a responsible, informed way.

Academic staff can use their scholarly activity workload for program completion. Professional staff are advised to discuss with and get approval from their supervisors.

You’ll have access to:

• The AI in Education Forum
• CSEdX-AI 2025
• Online resources and guides
• DLT support for educational design and development

The Foundational Critical AI Literacies program will be available in early August 2025. Staff will be informed when it is launched. You will need to log in to Brightspace and look for:

• Foundational Critical AI Literacies
  OR
• Applied Critical AI Practices

in your dashboard (under the Organisations tab).

You can contact the Charles Sturt Teaching Academy at teachingacademy@csu.edu.au