a self-paced course · 8 steps · open, no login
AI and You: Thinking Critically in a Changing World
In this course, you will explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming our world and how you can develop stronger critical thinking skills to understand, evaluate, and question the information you encounter in digital environments.
Throughout the course, you will move step by step through interactive activities that combine exploration, analysis, discussion, and reflection. You will work with websites, videos, online materials, AI tools, and scientific sources to better understand both the potential and the limitations of AI.
How the course works
- Eight stepsTake them in order. Each step is a page with its own activity, so a single step can also be used on its own.
- Open to everyoneNo login and no account. You need a browser and, for Steps 4 and 6, access to a Generative AI tool.
- Three written productsA short report in Step 5, a report in Step 6 and a reflection in Step 8. With a teacher or a group, hand them in there.
- Your notes stay with youEvery step has a notes box, saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.
The eight steps
- step 01From Past to Present: How Technology Shapes HumanityWatch a video about the history of technology and its impact on human society, connecting past innovations to today’s digital world.Video
- step 02The Origins of Intelligence: A Journey Through AI HistoryExplore an interactive timeline of the history of Artificial Intelligence and reflect on how AI is changing the way we live, learn, and communicate.Interactive timeline
- step 03Think Deeper: Mastering Critical Thinking SkillsStudy a video about critical thinking and learn key strategies such as observation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, and reflection.Video
- step 04AI, Power, and Responsibility in the Digital AgeExplore how Generative AI can influence information, society, and democracy by analyzing biases, ethical issues, and the interests behind AI technologies.Compare AI tools · reflection
- step 05Human or AI? Uncovering the Truth Behind Digital ContentFind online materials and analyze whether they may have been created by humans or AI, applying critical thinking categories. You write a short report.Investigation · short report
- step 06AI in Action: Scientific Investigation on Climate ChangeUse AI and scientific sources to investigate a climate change question, comparing information and evaluating reliability through a structured scientific approach.Investigation · report
- step 07Debate Zone: AI vs Human CreativityTake part in a discussion on the differences between human and AI-generated content, sharing your ideas and critical analysis.Discussion
- step 08Final Reflection: Your Journey Through AI and Critical ThinkingWrite a personal reflection about your learning journey: your views on AI, critical thinking, challenges, insights, and future perspectives.Reflection
Your notes
Steps with notes are marked above. Download all your notes in one text file, for your reports or for Step 8.
This course is designed to help you become a more thoughtful, critical, and responsible digital thinker. Stay curious, question information, explore deeply, and enjoy the learning journey!
Who made it
The course grew out of the SEA-EU staff week in the Algarve, March 2026, where staff from across the alliance co-created courses together. It was first set up inside the staff week’s Moodle course.
Web version: Kaspar Bredahl Rasmussen, Nord University. In this version, the Moodle forum of Step 7 became a public discussion, and the reflection questions of Step 8 were written from the course’s own description. The videos in Steps 1 and 3 are by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell and TED-Ed, embedded from YouTube.