AI Literacy, Equity, and the Mismatch of Expectations with Caitlin Kirby

Today, our guest is Dr. Caitlin Kirby, Associate Director of Research and interim co-Director at the Evidence-Driven Learning Innovation (EDLI) team at Michigan State University. Caitlyn’s work focuses on developing and researching equitable and engaging learning experiences, especially those that leverage digital and online components.

Prior to her current role, Caitlin was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, studying how undergraduates develop scientific literacy around socioscientific issues. She earned her PhD in Environmental Science and Policy and STEM Education at Michigan State University, where she also completed a Fulbright student research grant in Germany. Her research spans contexts from climate change and urban agriculture to university classrooms and Indigenous spaces.

Caitlin also holds certifications in college science and math teaching and in community engagement, highlighting her commitment to bridging research and practice. We are delighted to have Caitlin on the show to discuss developing your approach to AI for teaching, what (the heck) we mean by “AI Literacy,” and building equity into digital education.