7 AI Critical Literacy Podcast Series
Jared Schroeder
The Teaching for Learning Center produced a six-part podcast series on AI Critical Literacy. The podcasts are centered around Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence and feature conversations between Missouri School of Journalism professor Jared Schroeder and thought-leaders throughout the university community.
Episode 1: Starters
Guest: Tori Mondelli, Teaching for Learning Center Director
The first episode introduces the series, focusing on generative AI and its implications for teaching and learning at the University of Missouri. Schroeder and Mondelli discuss the need for skepticism and questioning when using AI tools, emphasizing the concept of “co-intelligence,” as they use Ethan Mollick’s book as a guide. The discussion explores definitions of AI literacy, distinguishing it from mere functional literacy, and emphasizes the importance of critical engagement with the technology. The conversation also considers how AI critical literacy should be taught in universities, addressing academic freedom and the necessity of preparing students for a rapidly changing world. The episode includes practical approaches for integrating AI into the curriculum, such as questioning AI-generated content and prompting deeper understanding.
Episode 2: The Man in the Box
Guest: Kevin Brown, associate professor of digital media and performance studies in the College of Arts & Sciences
Episode 2 uses the Mechanical Turk chess-playing machine as a metaphor for the hidden human element within AI systems. The conversation between Schroeder and Brown, chair of the university’s standing committee on AI, explores the relationship between humans and AI, questioning whether we’ve truly “removed the man from the box” when it comes to artificial intelligence. The conversation also discusses the ethical implications of training AI on human data and then treating it as something separate from ourselves. Ultimately, the episode reflects on the idea of co-intelligence and, with the help of Brown’s enthusiasm, encourages educators to view AI as a collaborative tool that can enhance learning when used critically and thoughtfully.
Episode 3 The Jurassic Park Problem
Guest: Marisa Chrysochoou, University of Missouri College of Engineering dean
Episode 3 emphasizes ethical considerations and practical applications of artificial intelligence in higher education, particularly within teaching and learning. The episode explores the “Jurassic Park problem” as a metaphor for unchecked technological advancement and discuss co-intelligence principles for working with AI. Chrysochoou shares her initial experiences with AI and emphasizes the importance of educators engaging with the technology to understand its potential and limitations, as well as considering neurodiversity in AI development and usage.
Episode 3: The Jurassic Park Problem
Episode 4 The Tip Calculator
Guest: Sam von Gillern, assistant professor in the University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development
Drawing upon “The Tip Calculator” episode of Seinfeld, Episode 4 opens by illustrating how a powerful tool can be narrowly understood and underutilized. Von Gillern, an expert in digital literacy, explores the nature of AI as a tool for teaching and learning, moving beyond simplistic “yes” or “no” perspectives. Von Gillern and Schroeder discuss the relevance of approaching AI thoughtfully, considering its potential for creative assistance and brainstorming while acknowledging its limitations, including hallucinations. The episode considers a nuanced understanding of AI, considering ways it can be used effectively and responsibly.
Episode 5: Mistakes Were Made
Guest: Flower Darby, associate director of the Teaching for Learning Center
The conversation explores the idea that AI is a tool and will likely not replace human educators entirely, emphasizing the unique value of human wisdom, experience, and empathy. They consider the concept of a “jagged frontier” for AI use, where its effectiveness varies, and the importance of critical AI literacy for individuals to make informed decisions about how to use the technology. The discussion also touches upon the evolving nature of copyright in the age of AI and the distinction between automated and assisted AI use, particularly in the context of education, and the need for educators to guide students on appropriate AI integration, especially to support struggling learners.
Episode 6: Expertise
Guest: Eric Parsons, associate teaching professor and director of undergraduate studies for the College of Arts & Sciences
Episode 6 covers the final chapters of Mollick’s Co-Intelligence and pays particular attention to the future of expertise. Parsons, who specializes in labor economics, evaluates the danger of an “expertise gap” as AI assists skilled workers but acts as a crutch for novices. Strategies include redesigning assignments to critique AI, using in-person assessments, and teaching students to use AI as an assistant/tutor. Faculty must use AI themselves to understand it.
Episode 7: The YAYAs
Guests: Lorraina Scolaro and Noah Grimsley, graduating seniors
It’s about time this podcast spoke with some YAYAs. A YAYA, as we learn in this podcast, is a member of the young and young adult advertising market, those between 18 and 24 years old. Most students are YAYAs. In this bonus episode of the Teaching for Learning Center’s AI Critical Literacy Podcast, Jared Schroeder, an associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism, interviews Lorraina Scolaro and Noah Grimsley, undergraduate students who took part in a project that gathered more than 800 survey responses and conducted extensive qualitative interviews with 18-24 year olds about how they use AI. The conversation highlights how students primarily view AI as a tool for academic and professional tasks, but also as a potential relationship partner, and emphasizes the need for instructors to provide clear guidelines for AI use rather than outright banning it. The discussion concludes by exploring the essential AI skills recent graduates should possess and the broader implications of AI on education and human connection.
