From AI Literacy to AI Competency: Fostering Human Agency and Critical Thinking through Andragogical Practice

The growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education requires deliberate attention to enhance both AI Literacy and AI Competency. However, most current AI education frameworks focus on literacy, emphasizing development of static knowledge and skills through rigid pedagogical approaches. This paper proposes a conceptual framework positioning AI literacy and competency as gradual stages in the development of AI Fluency. Our framework outlines pedagogical and andragogical teaching-learning approaches based on three key practice dimensions: (i) teaching and learning ethos, (ii) teaching plan, and (iii) learning dynamics. While pedagogical methods are best suited to AI literacy, andragogical strategies emphasizing human agency, critical thinking, and contextual application are more appropriate for fostering AI competency. This framework contributes to AI education research by offering a structured model for curriculum development, faculty training, and instructional design, ensuring that AI education moves toward fostering lifelong AI skills.