NAVIGATING ETHICAL AI USE IN ONLINE EDUCATION: LEVERAGING THE FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Authors

• Grace Kaletski-Maisel, University of Central FloridaFollow

Abstract

As generative AI transforms online education, students are confronted with the many ethical quandaries that this technology poses. A document known as The Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Framework) has great potential to serve as a tool for educators who strive to guide students towards ethical decision-making in AI use. Information literacy is “the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.” This definition was posed by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) in the Framework, published in 2015. This document presents six core concepts that are fundamental for learners to grasp as they develop information literacy abilities: Authority is Constructed & Contextual, Information Creation as a Process, Information Has Value, Research as Inquiry, Scholarship as Conversation, and Searching as Strategic Exploration. Each concept is accompanied by relevant knowledge practices and dispositions that illustrate what achievement might look like in learners on the journey between novice and mastery. A decade later, the widespread availability of generative artificial intelligence presents new implications for learners’ information literacy needs and a multitude of ethical challenges, granting the message of the Framework an enhanced relevance. The knowledge practices and learning dispositions presented in this document can serve as a guide in considering the many ethical implications of AI use and helping learners navigate the ethical terrain of using AI generated content. This presentation will introduce audience members to the Framework that revolutionized the world of academic library instruction a decade ago and elaborate how each of the six concepts serves as a critical transferable skill for the ethical use of AI today.

Recommended Citation

Kaletski-Maisel, Grace (2026) "NAVIGATING ETHICAL AI USE IN ONLINE EDUCATION: LEVERAGING THE FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION," FDLA Journal: Vol. 10, Article 1.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fdla-journal/vol10/iss1/1