What Skills Matter Most for AI Literacy?

AI literacy in the classroom looks like students practicing judgment, sense-making, and self-awareness while working alongside AI, not replacing thinking with tools. It emphasizes mindset before mechanics. In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman frame AI literacy through the BAKE Mindset: Balance – Knowing when AI helps and when it doesn't Adaptability – Updating learning practices as tools change Knowledge Sharing – Making thinking visible and collective Empathy – Designing learning with student experience in mind How Does AI Change Research in Schools? AI changes how research starts and what counts as learning. Instead of: Finding information Rewriting sources Formatting citations Students now practice: Comparing perspectives Identifying bias and heuristics Deciding what matters and why Research becomes an exercise in judgment, not retrieval. The episode traces this shift historically—from card catalogs to microfiche to Google—and positions AI tools as the next evolution rather than a rupture. The conversation highlights several skills that remain human-led: Judgment – Evaluating ideas, not accepting outputs Question Formation – Using AI to clarify what to ask next Bias Awareness – Recognizing anchoring and confirmation effects Metacognition – Noticing learning gaps and strengths AI supports these skills but does not perform them on a learner's behalf. What Does "AI as a Co-Learner" Mean? AI as a co-learner means: Students remain responsible for decisions AI offers scaffolding, variation, or clarification Learning paths stay human-directed This mirrors patterns already familiar in education, including IEPs, 504 plans, and differentiated instruction. How Does AI Literacy Connect to SEL? AI literacy intersects with social-emotional learning by strengthening: Self-awareness of strengths and gaps Confidence in asking questions Comfort with uncertainty and revision As students work with AI, they gain clearer insight into how they learn—not just what they produce. Who Is This Episode For? Classroom teachers rethinking research and assessment School leaders shaping AI literacy strategy Instructional coaches and curriculum designers Educators focused on mindset, SEL, and learning design Series Context This episode is part of the BAKE Mindset series from Shifting Schools. Ready to learn more: https://www.shiftingschools.com/ Do you love the way this show is edited and produced? If you are looking for an amazing producer, learn more about connecting with our very own, Sagheer M. https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55