Artificial intelligence literacy: Development of a curriculum and scale adaptation for middle school students

In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, individuals must adapt to the demands of the era, emphasizing the need for artificial intelligence literacy. However, research on artificial intelligence education remains limited, and measurement tools for assessing AI literacy are still in development. This study focuses on the creation, implementation, and evaluation of an artificial intelligence literacy curriculum designed for secondary school students, using a mixed-method approach that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methods. The curriculum development process was carried out qualitatively. Scales measuring artificial intelligence literacy and attitudes, originally developed by Kim and Lee (2022) and Sun and Ahn (2022), were adapted into Turkish through linguistic equivalence procedures. These adapted tools, the artificial intelligence literacy scale (AILS) and the attitude towards artificial intelligence scale (ATAIAS), were administered to 420 students. Confirmatory factor analyses and reliability tests indicated that both scales were valid and reliable for use in this context. In the implementation and evaluation phase, a weak experimental model with a pre-test and post-test design was applied. The study involved 24 7th-grade students from Alparslan Secondary School in Istanbul during a six-week Technology Design course. Results showed a significant improvement in students' artificial intelligence literacy levels. Additionally, the program positively influenced students' attitudes towards artificial intelligence. The curriculum equipped students with fundamental technical knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence while fostering awareness of its social impacts, ethical considerations, and potential risks. Overall, the findings indicate that the artificial intelligence literacy program effectively enhanced students' understanding and attitudes, highlighting its value in education.