Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and EducationOnline Learning and AnalyticsEthics and Social Impacts of AI

Ladislava Khailova, Melissa Netzband Wathen, Melissa Jones

2026.5.29Journal of Information Literacy

DOI: 10.11645/20.1.883

Abstract

Responding to the rapid rise of generative AI (GenAI) use in academic research, this project addresses the growing need for GenAI literacy in higher education by articulating a set of core GenAI information literacy (IL) competencies aligned with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (2015). The project drew on a targeted review of emerging GenAI literacy scholarship, mapping identified competencies to the Framework and refining them through iterative synthesis supported by ChatGPT-assisted prompting and human evaluation. Human oversight and disciplinary judgment remained central throughout the process. The resulting ACRL-aligned competency model situates GenAI literacy within established IL principles, providing a foundation for instruction, consultations, and campus-wide GenAI literacy initiatives. The article also discusses early implementations of the competencies at Georgetown University through a train-the-trainer initiative, course-integrated instruction, and workshops.

Citation format

KHAILOVA, Ladislava; WATHEN, Melissa Netzband; JONES, Melissa. Articulating generative AI information literacy competencies. Journal of Information Literacy, 2026, 20(1): 189–207.