› › › › Beginner’s guide to AI literacy for educators

Beginner’s guide to AI literacy for educators

Part 1 of an AI resource series for educators

Understand what AI is, how it’s changing education, and how you can engage with it safely and purposefully in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This is guide 1 in a 6-part series from Ako Aotearoa, designed to help educators explore AI in education — safely, ethically, and in ways that reflect our values in Aotearoa.

Each guide offers practical steps, real examples, and reflective tools to support your journey. Whether you’re just starting or deepening your practice, these resources are here to support your next steps — practically and purposefully.

Start your journey with confidence, clarity, and cultural care.

What is AI and why it matters in education

What is AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence — such as recognising patterns, making predictions, or generating content. Generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, or Grammarly can create new content based on prompts.

Why it matters for educators

AI is already reshaping how learners interact with knowledge, feedback, and creativity. Used thoughtfully, AI can:

Reduce admin load
Help brainstorm content or activities
Scaffold learner understanding

But it also raises important questions about academic integrity, equity, and digital readiness.

Common AI Tools

Tool	What it does
ChatGPT	Generates text responses from prompts
Grammarly	Assists with writing and tone
DALL·E	Creates images based on text prompts

Example

"I asked ChatGPT to turn my lesson plan bullet points into a first draft — it saved me 30 minutes and gave me a new idea for an activity." — Foundation Tutor, NZ

Understanding AI Literacy vs Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy = Knowing how to use digital tools safely and effectively

AI Literacy = Understanding how AI works, what it can/can’t do, and how to use it critically

Aspect	Digital Literacy	AI Literacy
Skills	Email, file sharing, LMS	Prompting, evaluating AI outputs
Mindset	Safe, competent user	Critical, curious thinker
Risks	Phishing, privacy	Bias, hallucination, misuse

Why it matters

AI literacy empowers educators to:

Question AI outputs
Understand where data comes from
Help learners engage responsibly

Reflective Prompt:

"What AI skills do your learners need to navigate the future — and how can you model them?"

Framing from Aotearoa

According to recent AARIA research, many tutors feel pressure to engage with AI but lack confidence. Building literacy is a form of digital manaakitanga.

Two key frameworks to support your practice

These frameworks offer practical steps to support your development as an educator working with AI. They don’t require technical expertise — just a willingness to explore, reflect, and experiment safely.

1. SAIL Framework (Seek → Assess → Integrate → Lead)

(Adapted from MacCallum et al. — see link below)

Seek: Understand what AI is and explore its relevance
Assess: Critically evaluate AI tools and outputs
Integrate: Use AI in ways that enhance learning or teaching
Lead: Innovate, mentor, or share practice with others

Scenario:

You’ve seen students using ChatGPT, but you’re unsure how to respond. Using the SAIL framework, you begin by seeking to understand how generative AI works. Then you assess whether it supports or challenges your current tasks. Next, you trial a small integration — like drafting quiz questions — and later, share what worked (or didn’t) with your team.

2. CRAFT Framework (Culture, Rules, Access, Familiarity, Trust)

(Originally developed by Danny Liu and colleagues — see link below)

Element	What to consider
Culture	Does this align with your classroom or learner values?
Rules	What are your organisation’s expectations?
Access	Do all learners have fair access to AI tools?
Familiarity	How confident are you with the tool?
Trust	Can you explain why the AI is being used?

Scenario:

You’re teaching a Level 4 writing class. Instead of banning ChatGPT, you ask learners to use it to generate ideas, then edit and reflect on what they keep or change. You discuss why that matters for their industry or particular context.

Resources to explore and use

Note: While some resources or tools in this section may evolve rapidly, the frameworks and guidance remain useful for supporting critical discussion and values-based decision-making.

Glossary of AI terms

See a glossary of common AI terms on Digital.govt.nz website

Beginner-Friendly Videos

Aotearoa-Based Literacy Frameworks