The CUNY Graduate Center has been awarded a $1 million grant from Google.org to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in higher education over a three-year period. This initiative, led by the Teaching and Learning Center at CUNY, aims to provide faculty and graduate student instructors with the resources necessary to assess the implications of generative AI within their academic fields and to develop relevant learning goals and curricular strategies.
Response to Advancements in AI Technology
In response to the rapid advancements in generative AI technology, this program seeks to build on previous collaborations between the Teaching and Learning Center and CUNY faculty and graduate students, emphasizing inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogical practices.
Institutional Recognition
Joshua C. Brumberg, President of the CUNY Graduate Center, has recognized the importance of this initiative in reinforcing the institution’s leadership in innovative teaching strategies amid the ongoing transformation of higher education influenced by AI technologies.
Support from Google.org
Tequila Lamar, the NYC outreach lead at Google.org, underscored the significance of education in promoting positive change, expressing support for the initiative that encourages critical engagement with AI technologies.
Project Overview
The project, titled “Disciplinary Frameworks for Critical AI Literacy,” will involve collaboration among CUNY faculty from various academic disciplines. Directed by Luke Waltzer, the initiative will focus on developing and testing educational materials through the Critical AI Literacy Institute (CALI). The program is set to launch in Spring 2025 and will adopt a phased approach throughout its duration.
Initial Participation and Curriculum Development
The initial group of faculty and graduate student instructors will participate in seminars designed to build foundational AI literacy, alongside an intensive summer institute aimed at collaborative curriculum development. Follow-up cohorts will continue this process, facilitating ongoing enhancements to the educational materials and curricula.
Addressing the Necessity of Evaluation
Waltzer has stated that the initiative addresses the necessity of critically evaluating the effects of AI on educational practices, research, and institutional operations. The project intends to establish practical pedagogical models that can be utilized by educators in different educational contexts.
Collaborative Communities of Practice
A key feature of this initiative is the establishment of collaborative communities of practice, intended to foster interdisciplinary discussions among faculty members. The educational materials generated will be made available as open educational resources (OER), thereby broadening access to advancements in AI literacy. By Fall 2027, the project aims to finalize a comprehensive suite of curricula and guidance documents for use in academic programs.
Recruitment Timeline
Recruitment for the first cohort of CALI faculty fellows is scheduled to begin in December 2024, with the involvement of doctoral students anticipated in Spring 2025. The initiative will draw on insights from key partners within CUNY, supported by an advisory board comprising representatives from various educational and library committees.
(Source: CUNY Graduate Center)