As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to become a significant component of modern engineering, it is important that incoming students learn foundational AI concepts to prepare for related challenges and opportunities in their careers. This study proposes the creation of research-informed online training for incoming engineering students to build their competencies in AI literacy and effective and responsible use of AI. Educational personas were created to better understand the experiences of incoming student. These personas ranged from students with no prior exposure to AI to those with an in-depth understanding of generative AI and large language models. Eight distinct units were established, each accompanied by targeted learning objectives and informed by several factors: gaps identified in the personas, insights from the literature reviews, and the specific skill deficiencies highlighted by the rubric. An online learning module was created in RISE, an online course development platform that supports interactive and engaging learning experiences. Designed activities included sorting exercises and matching definitions, which helped reinforce key concepts. Pilot testing of the final module was performed in an introductory coding course for first-year engineering students. Preliminary feedback from students and teaching team members has been highly positive, highlighting the potential for broader applicability.
Poitras-Whitecalf et al. (Thu,) studied this question.