Researchers looking at how Artificial Intelligence tools and skills should be taught in schools and the role of school librarians in delivering new skills, will share their outcomes in a free webinar on 16 September.

The research has been led by Dr Konstantina Martzoukou, who said: “With the popularisation of GenAI technologies and the integration of large language systems to existing familiar technological tools, children and young people often use them within everyday life as added extensions to the existing offer (e.g., Google offers AI-empowered responses in search results and Snapchat integrates an AI chatbot option). In 2024, the National Literacy Trust, surveyed more than 15,000 young people, aged 13 and 18 and found that three quarters of children aged 8 to 13 had already used generative AI, despite being intended for children who are at least 13 years old.

“There is, therefore, an urgent necessity to enhance awareness, knowledge, and skills among children and young people on navigating effectively, safely and ethically their new GenAI empowered realities. Developing Media and Information Literacy (MIL), which UNESCO describes as a set of competencies that apply to information and media content in all formats is the foundation for accessing, retrieving, evaluating, using, creating and sharing AI-generated information and content ‘in a critical, ethical and effective way, in order to participate and engage in personal, professional and societal activities’ (p.29).”

Delivered by a team at Robert Gordon University led by Dr Konstantina Martzoukou, in partnership with CILIPS and school librarians across Scotland, Generative Artificial Intelligence Skills in Schools (GenAISiS) represents pioneering research into the unique role of school library professionals in equipping young people with the skills and ethics they need to negotiate a digital future that increasingly features Generative AI.

As the project enters its final stages, you can join the research team for a free online event on Tuesday 16th September 3.30-5pm to learn more about the outcomes from the research, key recommendations, and CILIPS top tips on how to advocate for the vital part that school librarians play in developing children and young people’s AI literacy.

This online event is open to all interested attendees, including librarians, teachers, parents, policy makers and researchers. Please register here to receive the Teams link in advance, and share with any interested colleagues.