Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – AUGUST 15, 2024) Students at Empire State University have a chance to study abroad in the comfort of their living room through an international collaboration between SUNY Empire and several other universities across the globe. The virtual exchange, titled “Intercultural Perspectives on Information Literacy and Metaliteracy (IPILM),” explores metaliteracy and metaliterate learning amid the rise of artificial intelligence. It’s an international collaboration between several universities in Germany, India, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria, and Poland.

Tom Mackey, a professor of arts and media in the School of Arts and Humanities, teaches the course for SUNY Empire and visited the University of Hildesheim Aug. 5-9, 2024 to meet with other collaborators of the IPILM workshop. While there, he discussed the project with other members of the IPILM, exploring the future direction of the virtual exchange, grant opportunities, and research and writing projects for future students. Mackey met with educators from Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce Pune, University of Sarajevo, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, University of Hildesheim, Tischner European University, and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology.

“IPILM has been such a valuable learning experience for our students at SUNY Empire and I hope to expand the availability of this international course,” Mackey said. “It is so inspiring to see our students work collaboratively with peers from around the world to conduct research and produce collaborative projects, such as infographics and digital media presentations, in a world of AI.”

Gabrielle Lerner, a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration program, took the class in 2022 while earning her undergraduate degree in economics at Empire State University.

“I was intrigued by the digital literacy component in this day and age where we’re not really sure what’s true and what’s not,” Lerner said. “The structure of the class was divided between working with our cohort of students here at SUNY Empire and then expanding to the international model where we had the opportunity to collaborate with students from other countries.”

The class was not required for Lerner’s degree program, but she said it shifted her perspective on research, how to discern sources, and how to collect objective information.

“We talked a lot about credibility and how to ensure a source is credible and that entirely shifted my views as a student and how I approach assignments,” Lerner said. “Now, in the workforce, I’m approaching my job where there’s a lot of sensitive subjects that come up so knowing how to be objective in these areas is a skill from this class I’m implementing in my life.”

Outside of the classroom, Lerner said the international collaboration provided her with connections she still maintains to this day.

“The dynamic of our group was strong from the beginning,” Lerner said. “We had students from India, Bosnia, and then me and we immediately connected on social media. It’s been an amazing experience building these relationships and it started with bonding over the assignments we had to do.”

Lerner said she recommends the class, and international collaborative, to other students as an opportunity to study abroad without leaving your living room.

“It’s an incredible way to connect with people, to get to know folks from other cultures, and expand yourself as a person,” Lerner said.