Artificial Intelligence
What is Artificial Intelligence?
IBM defines artificial intelligence (AI) as technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy.
Different Types of AI
There are many types of AI. Some are based on their technology e.g., robotics) while others might be based on their purpose (e.g., generative AI). The GoSearch website provides an overview of different types of AI.
This webpage will focus on a type of AI typically called generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). GenAI is a form of artificial intelligence that is changing the landscape of education. Review the information on this page to gain a basic understanding of what GenAI is, as well as frameworks for understanding and implementation, and resources to build GenAI literacy.
Considerations for Using GenAI
Before implementing AI, programs should consider any relevant policies that influence how they can or should utilize it. These may include guidance on situations in which it is acceptable and requirements for using appropriate AI tools, among other things. Educators should weigh the need for its use by asking themselves if the task(s) can be completed without GenAI. While an effective tool, it is each user’s responsibility to ensure that accuracy, context, and ethics are accounted for during use.
Here is a list of considerations to help select a GenAI tool that best fits your needs. Click on any of the topics below to see potential questions to identify how well a given tool meets your needs:
(Provide a link for a downloadable Word document containing all questions with room for responses.)
1. Data Privacy, Security, and Intellectual Property
- What are the terms and conditions for using the GenAI tool?
- Who owns the content that is input into the GenAI tool?
- Who owns the content generated by the GenAI tool?
- What rights does the GenAI tool obtain when it generates images, voices, or likenesses?
- What uploaded content can be used to train the GenAI tool or improve the system? How can a “no training” mode be enabled?
- What data does the GenAI tool collect, store, transmit, or share?
- How does the GenAI tool address personally identifiable information (PII) collection, use, and protection?
- What security safeguards exist within the GenAI tool (e.g., encryption, secure storage, role-based access)?
- How long does the GenAI tool retain data, and can agencies request deletion?
- What data-sharing agreements and privacy documents are available and compliant with PDE and federal regulations (e.g., FERPA, COPPA)?
- What privacy settings and user permissions can be configured by an administrator?
- When are users informed about privacy and data use? Where can this language be found, and is it clear and accessible?
2. Reliability and Bias Mitigation
- How does the GenAI tool communicate uncertainty or signal when human review is needed?
- What controls exist to reduce hallucinations, which occur when a GenAI tool produces a response that is plausible-sounding but factually incorrect?
- What steps are taken to mitigate bias?
- How transparent is the platform about its training data and methodology, including what types of sources were used to train the model, how the data was reviewed or filtered for quality, and what steps the company takes to identify and reduce bias or inaccuracies in the model’s outputs?
- What citation or fact‑checking features does the GenAI tool provide?
- How are our student populations reflected in the training data used for this GenAI tool?
3. Instructional Effectiveness and Quality
- What evidence is there that the GenAI tool can help meet instructional or administrative goals?
- How well does the GenAI tool align with agency priorities?
- What research exists demonstrating the GenAI tool’s effectiveness?
- How well does the GenAI tool support language needs and multilingual learners? For example, can it create multimodal outputs to support learners in understanding classroom content; adjust output to be comprehensible for multiple proficiency levels; offer interactions that support development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills; provide feedback that encourages learning rather than simply supplying the answer; or develop realistic role-play opportunities that allow students to practice authentic language use?
- How well does the GenAI tool generate output at a text complexity appropriate for adult learners? In what ways can the GenAI tool adjust the complexity of its output to suit adult learners?
- In what ways can the GenAI tool be used in adult education settings (e.g., lesson creation, developing assessments)?
- What level of human oversight is required to ensure quality output, and does the program have the capacity to provide this oversight?
4. Accessibility and Equity
- What accessibility features does the GenAI tool offer, and how well do they meet user needs? Examples include, but are not limited to, screen‑reader compatibility, multilingual support, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- In what ways does the GenAI tool reflect diverse cultural backgrounds?
- How well does the GenAI tool work on low-cost devices, limited-bandwidth connections, or mobile phones?
- How can users interact with the GenAI tool (e.g., text, voice, video, image)?
5. Usability
- How intuitive is the GenAI tool for staff with varying levels of technical comfort?
- What product‑specific training is available for the GenAI tool?
- What vendor support exists for using the GenAI tool?
- What level of prompt-engineering expertise is required to use the GenAI tool effectively?
- What staff capacity is needed to sustain the use of the GenAI tool?
6. Technical Requirements
- How well does the GenAI tool integrate with existing systems?
- What setup or IT support is required to start using the GenAI tool?
- How well does the GenAI tool function on mobile devices?
- What program device and security policies are in place at your program, and how well does the GenAI tool comply with them? If your program is housed within a larger institution, how well does the GenAI tool comply with the institution’s policy(ies) around GenAI?
7. Cost & Licensing
- What is the pricing model for the GenAI tool?
- What are the limitations of free/low‑cost versions of the GenAI tool?
- What are the long‑term or hidden costs of the GenAI tool?
- How does the GenAI tool’s license support or restrict institutional use?
8. Implementation & Safety
- What risks exist with using this GenAI tool, and how will they be mitigated (e.g., inaccurate or biased outputs, inappropriate or harmful content, data exposure, learner over-reliance on AI, accessibility barriers)?
- How will staff be taught to responsibly use the GenAI tool?
- What guidelines are in place at your organization for safe and appropriate use of GenAI tools?
- What references or case studies regarding the implementation and safety of GenAI tools are available from agencies like yours?
9. Student Use (For tools intended for students to use directly)
- What rules and guidelines will students need to learn to use the GenAI tool safely and appropriately?
- What digital literacy skills will students need to use the GenAI tool successfully? What preparation will instructors need to teach these skills? How will instructors teach these skills to students?
- What instructions and training are provided by the GenAI tool? What additional training will students need?
- What safeguards are in place to prevent student misuse of the GenAI tool, including but not limited to generating answers to assignments or producing inappropriate content?
- How does the GenAI tool respond to common student errors (e.g., spelling mistakes, translation errors, wrong answers to questions)?
10. Environmental Impact
- How can your program differentiate between tasks that can be met with non-AI tools and those that must be completed with the GenAI tool?
- What is the anticipated environmental impact of the GenAI tool? What information does the vendor provide about this?
- How can you select between low-energy and high-energy modes, depending on the demands of the task you would like the GenAI tool to complete?
- What are the technical and energy requirements for running the GenAI tool, and how might these impact your program (e.g., can it run on our existing hardware, or does it rely on constant cloud processing)?
Getting Started with GenAI
To learn about what GenAI is and to view suggestions on how adult education agencies and staff can get started, visit the Adult Training & Development Network’s Artificial Intelligence page.
One important consideration in using AI is to treat results in a similar manner to any internet search – don’t assume results are what you are seeking. Results should be reviewed for accuracy, potential bias, and appropriate context. Consider any AI result to be a rough draft, needing human interpretation to ensure it is an appropriate response to a given query.
In addition, here is a table that provides information administrators, instructors, and students should consider to promote safe and effective use of AI. (We will add the table of things to know about AI here.)
Contact the Digital Literacy and Distance Education Project with questions, requests for support at your program, or assistance using any of the resources on this page.
Resources for Getting the Most Out of AI
AI Integration Framework – A guide from World Education covering six elements of AI use to ensure it “aligns with educational goals, upholds ethics and privacy, and more.”
AI Literacy Matters for Everyone – A brief from World Education outlining scenarios where adult learners’ AI literacy overlaps with their literacies for finances, the digital world, health, family, education and training, civic engagement, and workplace readiness.
CampGPT Prompt Book – Sample prompts, written by adult educators, that follow the Role, Action, Context, Example, Format prompt framework. Users of the prompt book can view the conversations the prompts yielded without engaging with the AI tool, or they can log into the tool and continue the conversation.
TeachAI.org – Resources for both instructors and education leaders, including practical tools and activities to help you explore, understand, and apply key AI literacy concepts.
References
- AI Integration Framework. Workforce EdTech. (2025, August 18). https://workforceedtech.org/ai-integration-framework/.
- Bickerstaff, A. (2023, August 2). The top 6 questions for schools to ask gen AI edtech companies. AI for Education. https://www.aiforeducation.io/blog/x4vqdfdkth9k2vvdv38sxtx8ppz9ny
- ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026) was used to review the original list of questions and suggest additional considerations. The author evaluated and revised all outputs for accuracy and relevance.