Inclusion | Exclusion |
|---|---|
AI literacy in higher ed Used AI literacy measurement tools Explicitly measured AI literacy in current students Empirical studies Written in English Published between 01/01/2000-6/12/2025 | Studies focusing on only student perceptions and/or behaviors Grey literature Lit reviews AI literacy for faculty Non-empirical studies |
Classification | Count | Author(s), Year |
|---|---|---|
Relationship of AI literacy to other variables | 26 | Al-Abdullatif et al., 2024; Asio, 2024; Bewersdorff et al., 2025; Bui et al, 2023; K. Chen et al., 2025; S. Y. Chen et al., 2024; Dadhich & Bhaumik, 2023kçe et al., 2025; Hossain et al., 2025; Imjai et al., 2025; Lee et al., 2024; Lilje et al., 2024; O’Dea et al, 2024; Qi et al., 2025; Samngamjan et al., 2024; Sari et al., 2025; Schauer et al., 2025; Shi et al., 2025; Skalka et al., 2025; Sprigi & Seufert, 2025; Swartz et al., 2025; Syed et al., 2025; C. L. Wang et al., 2025; K. Wang et al., 2025; Wen et al., 2025; Xiao et al., 2024 |
AI literacy instrument development | 7 | Biagini et al., 2023; Han & Zhang, 2025; Hobeika et al., 2024; Hornberger et al., 2023; Ma & Chen, 2024; Topal et al., 2025 Z. Wang et al., 2025 |
Effectiveness of intervention on AI literacy | 6 | Dong et al., 2025; Kong et al., 2023; Korte et al., 2024; Lin et al., 2024; J. Wang, 2024; Younis, 2024 |
Framework Category | Specific Theory/Model (Count) |
|---|---|
Psychology and technology adoption | Theory of planned behavior (n = 4) Technology acceptance model (n = 2) Other single technology usage models (n = 7) |
Psychology and learning | Self-determination theory (n = 3) Social cognitive theory (n = 2) Self-regulated learning (n = 2) Bloom’s taxonomy (n = 3) |
AI-specific frameworks | Ng et al.’s AI literacy framework (n = 4) Other single AI literacy frameworks (n = 10) |
Construct Names and Definitions | Study | |
|---|---|---|
Apply AI: operate and use AI in everyday life Understand AI: know AI concepts, define AI, think of uses for AI Detect AI: know if an application uses AI AI Ethics: incorporate ethical decisions when using AI Create AI: develop AI applications, select tools to program AI | Asio, 2024 (from Carolus et al., 2023) | |
Recognizing AI Interdisciplinarity Understanding intelligence General vs narrow AI's strengths and weaknesses, Representations Decision-Making ML steps Human Role in AI Programmability Data literacy Learning from data Critically interpreting data Ethics | Bewersdorf et al., 2024 (from Hornberger et al., 2023) | |
Knowledge-related dimension: it encompasses the understanding of fundamental AI concepts, focusing on basic skills and attitudes that do not require preliminary technological knowledge Operational dimension: it focuses on applying AI concepts in various contexts Critical dimension: it underscores the importance of effective communication and collaboration with AI technologies and critical evaluation of their impact on society. Ethical dimension: it concerns the responsible and conscious use of AI technologies | Biagini et al., 2023 | |
Awareness: the ability to identify and comprehend AI technology during the use of AI-related application Usage: the ability to apply and exploit AI technology to accomplish tasks proficiently Evaluation: the ability to analyze, select, and critically evaluate AI applications and their outcomes Ethics: the ability to be aware of the responsibilities and risks associated with the use of AI technology | Bui et al., 2025; Hobeika et al., 2024; Ma & Chen, 2024; Qi et al., 2025; Sari et al., 2025; Shi et al., 2025; C. L. Wang et al., 2025; K. Wang et al., 2025; and Xiao et al., 2024 (from B. Wang et al., 2023) | |
Utilization: how students use generative AI for academic work Interaction: the methods students use to prompt and refine AI-generated outputs Evaluation: how students assess the quality, accuracy, and bias of AI-generated content Ethics: students' perceptions of academic integrity and the responsible use of AI | K. Chen et al., 2025 | |
Technical understanding: competencies related to how AI works Critical appraisal: competencies related to the critical evaluation of AI application results Practical application: competencies related to technical applications of AI and solving problems with AI | Gökçe et al., 2025; Schauer et al., 2025; and Topal et al., 2025 (from Laupichler et al., 2023) | |
AI knowledge: the cognition of the concepts and logic in the field of AI AI application: the skillful use of AI technology to solve problems in different situations AI attitude: an individual’s feelings and beliefs regarding AI usage. AI ethics: the ability to recognize ethical responsibilities and avoid risks and moral issues AI innovation: an experimental mindset and the capacity to apply technologies to deal creatively with real-world problems | Han & Zhang, 2025 | |
Familiarity: AI awareness, recognition, and usage experience Knowledge & Application: conceptual and technical AI knowledge and understanding Ethical Perceptions: AI impact on academic integrity and related realms | Hossain et al., 2024 | |
AI Basics: understanding the basics of AI AI Proficiency: the skilled and efficient application of AI Insight: the ability to accurately interpret AI data and outcomes Analysis: skills in using AI for complex analyses and decision-making related to data evaluation and application | Imjai et al., 2025 | |
Cognitive: understanding basic AI concepts (like machine learning and deep learning) and developing competencies to apply them Affective: feeling empowered to confidently participate in an AI-driven world (including self-efficacy and seeing the value of AI) Sociocultural: having an awareness of the ethical issues surrounding AI | Kong et al., 2023 | |
Affective learning comprises four factors that measure students' subjectively experienced feelings in terms of (1) intrinsic motivation; (2) self-efficacy; (3) career interest; and (4) confidence in learning AI Behavior learning comprises two factors: (1) students' behavioural commitment and (2) collaboration to build relationships to pursue learning goals in an AI environment Cognitive learning: comprises three factors: students' knowledge and skills achievement from (1) lower- (know and understand AI), (2) mid- (use and apply AI) to (3) high-order thinking skills (evaluate and create AI) Ethical learning: comprises a set of seven ethical aspects: (1) reliability, (2) safety, (3) privacy, (4) responsibility, (5) transparency, (6) awareness and (7) social good that bring students' positive mindsets towards AI | Lilje et al., 2025; and Spirgi & Seufert, 2025 (from Ng et al., 2024) | |
Teamwork Attitude toward AI | Lin et al., 2021 | |
Knowledge: acquiring the fundamental knowledge of AI and how to use AI tools Application: understanding of how particular AI tools can be used in different scenarios and to assist users to complete tasks efficiently and creatively. Evaluation: selecting the most appropriate AI tools, analyzing and evaluating AI outputs Ethics: an umbrella term and is concerned with areas such as fairness, accountability, and transparency. | O’Dea et al., 2024 | |
Knowledge and use of AI Creation of AI AI self-efficacy AI self-Competency | Samngamjan et al., 2024 (adapted from Carolus et al., 2023) | |
Satisfaction: perceived satisfaction with AI learning Readiness: confidence in using AI tools and the perception of AI’s impact on daily life and personal development Relevance: perceived usefulness of AI tools for self and others | Skalka et al., 2025 | |
Application: understanding both the benefits and challenges of individual AI tools, as well as the ability to utilize them depending on the task Authenticity: requires the AI users to incorporate their own voices, adjusting tone and sentiment according to the situation Accountability: ability to discern content critically, comply with ethical and legal standards and thus ensure the fair and equitable use of AI tools Agency: AI is utilized and controlled by humans and not vice versa | Swartz et al., 2025 (from Cardon et al., 2023) | |
Know/understand: understanding of technical knowledge of how AI works | Syed et al., 2025 (adapted from Dai et al., 2020) | |