This keynote session was delivered by Dr Stella Lee, an international AI strategist, edtech consultant, and executive board member of the Learning & Development Accelerator, who joined virtually from Canada. Stella brought a global perspective and a practical, human-centred approach to AI literacy in learning and development.
Understanding AI Literacy
Stella emphasised that AI literacy goes beyond learning prompts or using tools—it is about understanding AI, automation, and the broader digital transformation affecting L&D. The session encouraged participants to reflect on how these shifts impact daily work and future organisational learning.
Key ideas explored included:
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Multiple metaphors for AI
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Polls invited attendees to describe AI creatively, generating metaphors such as:
- “The best human impersonator, but still an impersonator”
- “A summer intern with a PhD”
- “A Swiss army knife”
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These metaphors highlighted AI’s abilities and limitations and introduced the idea that AI should be understood from different perspectives.
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AI literacy as a holistic framework
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Dr Lee’s framework covers eight key areas:
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- AI fundamentals
- Data fluency
- Critical thinking and sense-making
- Diverse use cases
- Ethics
- AI pedagogy
- Assessment
- Future of work
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Critical thinking and sense-making
- AI outputs are not always reliable; hallucinations, biased outputs, and generic or culturally insensitive responses are common.
- Users must ask iterative questions, verify references, and assess outputs critically.
Ethics and Responsibility
Ethics was a major theme, emphasising that AI is not neutral: it embeds human biases and ideology. Dr Lee highlighted:
- Risks of bias and discrimination, especially in hiring or assessment systems.
- Environmental and governance concerns.
- Importance of human agency and privacy in AI adoption.
Practical strategies discussed:
- Checking AI tools’ terms of service and data policies.
- Evaluating how outputs are generated and used.
- Advocating for responsible AI adoption in organisational contexts.
Examples shared included AI-generated fake newspaper articles and the ethical issues arising from AI-powered hiring platforms. These highlighted the need for vigilance, accountability, and proactive policy involvement.
AI Pedagogy: Learning with AI
For educators and L&D professionals, AI literacy is also about pedagogy and authentic learning:
- AI tools are often designed without educator input, prioritising efficiency over learning outcomes.
- Key questions to consider:
- How does AI support deep learning, not just task completion?
- Where is human intervention essential?
- How can educators influence AI tool design and implementation?
- Participants were encouraged to explore:
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- Comparing outputs across AI tools.
- Identifying internal “trust signals” to evaluate AI responses.
- Reflecting on their own competencies to guide AI integration.
Summary and Takeaways
Stella closed with a clear message for L&D professionals:
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AI literacy is an ongoing journey. Understanding, ethics, and pedagogy must evolve alongside technology.
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Critical thinking is key. Accepting outputs at face value is risky; questioning, verifying, and reflecting is essential.
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Community matters. Sharing experiences and knowledge fosters better understanding and responsible adoption.
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Take action. Engage with AI tools actively, contribute to policy, and advocate for ethical and effective AI use in your organisation.
The session left participants thoughtful and inspired, reinforcing that AI literacy is both a technical skill and a human-centred practice. As Dr Lee put it, L&D professionals can shape how AI supports learning—without losing sight of the human values that guide it.
Written by Dr Rossana Gent, based on the session led by Stella Lee.
Stella Lee is a Calgary-based edtech and AI strategist and founder of Paradox Learning. With over 20 years of experience across sectors, she focuses on the ethical, inclusive, and practical use of AI in learning and development. She recently partnered with Athabasca University to design an AI literacy course for educators and workforce leaders, and continues to develop frameworks that help organizations engage with emerging technologies responsibly. Stella shares resources on AI literacy, competencies, ethics here.