GenAI Literacy Resources Updated for Instructors and Students

Updates to the Student AI Literacy Module 

In spring 2025, Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) released a module for the Northwestern community titled How to Use Generative AI Responsibly in Academia that directs students to approach the use of AI in their learning with a framework of: 

• Follow Instructor Guidelines  

• Seek Clarification  

• Provide Proper Citation  

• Maintain Transparency  
• Use AI as a Support, Not as a Substitute 

For over a year, instructors and programs have been using this module to provide a clear and consistent baseline of generative AI knowledge for their students. Additionally, Teaching and Learning Technologies has worked with the Student Affairs team to have the module be provided to undergraduate students via their class year orientation Canvas sites. It is also available for anyone at Northwestern to access via the Northwestern IT Learning with AI webpage. 

This summer we reviewed and updated the module to match the changing technology and learning ecosystem at Northwestern. Some updates include: 

• Adding more nuance around treatment of instructor-created course materials, 

• Updating details about the increasing use of LLMs in search engines, 

• Highlighting the Northwestern Principles Regarding Academic Integrity as the starting point for students to understand institutional policy. 

Learn more about the Student AI Literacy Module and how to view or download it to any Canvas site. 

Request a Conversation with a TRAIL Guide 

This spring and summer, TLT has been piloting a new program called Teaching and Responsible AI Literacy (TRAIL) Guides. TRAIL Guides are undergraduate students at Northwestern trained in the fundamentals of generative AI and its impacts on teaching and learning. TRAIL Guides will support instructors and students at Northwestern by offering consultations to instructors, developing AI literacy materials for classroom use, conducting AI literacy outreach to students, and more. 

So far, our inaugural TRAIL Guides have run an AI trivia night for students, tested prompts instructors are using with their students, provided feedback on assignment ideas, and shared their unique perspectives of AI and learning via panels, conversations, and written comments. Instructors can request a variety of support from the TRAIL Guides, including 

• Request a consult for a TRAIL Guide to review your course's AI policy and give feedback from the student perspective.  

• Collaborate with a TLT learning engineer and a TRAIL Guide to develop a specific AI literacy activity or material for your class.  

• Review or revise an AI-enabled activity for your course with the assistance of a TRAIL Guide.  

• Explore what an AI-resistant activity might look like for your class.  

To get started with a TRAIL Guide, email us at trailguides@northwestern.edu. Meet our inaugural trail guides, Daria and Melanie, here!