Shaping AI literacy: how educators are navigating generative AI in the humanities

Artificial intelligence is reshaping education, and humanities instructors face a crucial question: How can they embrace AI without compromising the integrity of language, literature, and writing instruction? Purdue’s own Jen William, head of the School of Languages and Cultures, helped tackle that challenge in a recent national webinar.

The discussion centered on a newly published working paper, Building a Culture for Generative AI Literacy in College Language, Literature, and Writing, created by the MLA-CCCC Joint Task Force on AI. The paper explores how AI can be integrated into humanities education while maintaining critical engagement and academic rigor.

“We’re hoping more educators will start embracing this technology—not naively, but thoughtfully,” said William, who recently completed a three-year term on the executive committee for the Association of Language Departments of the Modern Language Association. “The goal is to help students benefit from AI while ensuring responsible use.”

The paper, released in October 2024, was developed through months of collaboration, including an in-person writing retreat earlier in the year. Its publication sparked discussion on Humanities Commons, with educators expressing both enthusiasm and concern about AI’s role in the classroom.

“There was a range of perspectives—some participants were very wary of AI, while others were more open to embracing it,” William said. “That’s exactly the kind of debate we need.”

Rather than prescribing a single approach, the task force aimed to provide educators with tools to navigate AI’s presence in higher education. William emphasized that the document was designed to encourage thoughtful experimentation rather than dictate a rigid framework.

“The paper has been widely downloaded and taken seriously,” she said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to AI in education, but our goal was to offer possibilities and options—helping educators see how AI might actually enhance their classrooms rather than threaten them.”

For Purdue instructors and students, this national conversation has direct implications. As AI continues to evolve, fostering literacy around its use will be critical in shaping how it supports—not replaces—human creativity and learning.

William’s role in this effort underscores Purdue’s leadership in tackling complex educational challenges. As discussions around AI in academia continue, Purdue faculty and students have a unique opportunity to help define the future of AI literacy in humanities education.

Last updated: March 26, 2025

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