AI Literacy Framework
ALiF Ecosystem Map
Four layers, from defining what AI literacy is to how institutions adopt it. Two cross-cutting systems span all layers: governance infrastructure and organizational learning debt theory. Each layer evolves independently. Changes propagate downward only.
Layer 1
The ALiF Standard
Defines what AI literacy is. Five components, three progression levels, sixteen sub-competencies, role adaptation principles, and conformance requirements. The foundation everything else builds against.
Major: 3–5 yrs · Minor: Annual
Core Artifacts
ALiF Standard v1.0r1 CURRENT
5 Components TEC · EVA · PRA · ETH · DAT
3 Levels L1 · L2 · L3
16 Sub-Competencies
Conformance Requirements NORMATIVE
DAT Minimum Threshold Principle NORMATIVE
Companion Documents
Implementation Pathway Model v1.0
Institutional Adoption Guide v1.0 NEW
Competency Framework v2
Concept Paper v2
Development Protocol v1
Standard Content Blocks
Arabic Localisation Protocol PLANNED Q2 2026
Government Mandate Design Guide PLANNED
Research Publications
ALiF Protocol Paper PUBLISHED · PREPRINTS
OLD Concept Paper UNDER REVIEW · PLOS ONE
ALiF Framework Introduction Paper PLANNED · C&E
Layer 2
Measurement Ecosystem
Instruments classified on three axes: construct alignment (Direct / Complementary / Adjacent), assessment method (Self-Report / Mixed / Observation), and unit of analysis (Individual / Team / Organisation). Registered via Instrument Registry Template v1.2.
Moderate · Per validation cycle
Direct — Individual
ALiF SAQ v2 DIRECT · SELF-REPORT · INDIVIDUAL · PHASE 1 VALIDATION
SAQ Administrator Guide v2 NEW
SAQ Respondent Form v2 NEW
Direct — Organisation
OLD Maturity Assessment (OLD-MA) DIRECT · MIXED · ORGANISATION · WORKSHOP-BASED
Adjacent — Organisation
OLD Infrastructure & Culture Audit (OLD-ICA) ADJACENT · OBSERVATION · ORGANISATION
Complementary & Referenced
HP Readiness Survey (RDS) COMPLEMENTARY · SELF-REPORT · REFERENCED
HE Readiness Assessment COMPLEMENTARY · SELF-REPORT · REFERENCED
Layer 3
Program Ecosystem
Learning experiences that develop ALiF competencies. Each program documents ALiF components addressed, progression levels targeted, roles served, and OLD debt dimensions engaged. Programs delivered via ALiF Nexus Platform.
Frequent · Continuous updates
Foundation Programs
AI Launchpad Course 2–3 HRS · ALL ROLES
AI Launchpad v2 20–25 HRS · L1–L2 · ALL ROLES
FAIM — Foundation of AI Mastery (Role-Specific)
FAIM Foundation Course 16 MODULES · L1→L2 · ALL COMPONENTS
FAIM Learner Pathway ROLE-SPECIFIC
FAIM Educator Pathway ROLE-SPECIFIC
FAIM Researcher Pathway ROLE-SPECIFIC
FAIM Clinician Pathway ROLE-SPECIFIC
FAIM Administrator Pathway ROLE-SPECIFIC
FAIM Lesson Plans M1–M16 COMPLETE
Advanced & Leadership Programs
SAIL Leadership Track LEADERS · ETH · PRA · L2–L3
PRIME Mastery Tracks ADVANCED · L3
Platform
ALiF Nexus Platform DELIVERY · ASSESSMENT · COMPETENCY GATING · TRACKING
Layer 4
Policy & Adoption
Institutional and governmental adoption. Implementations classified as Conforming or Aligned per ALiF Standard v1.0r1 conformance requirements. Adoption logged in the Adoption Register. Governance transition triggers apply at 2+ jurisdiction adoptions.
Variable · Driven by adopters
Active Adoptions
Dubai Health AI Literacy Policy ANNOUNCED APR 2025
MBRU — Conforming Implementation NEW
Adoption Governance
Adoption Charter Template NEW
Adoption Register MAINTAINED BY CORE TEAM
Planned
Framework Concordance Tables PLANNED Q3 2026
Government Adoption Playbook PLANNED Q3 2026
Governance Advisory Council TRIGGERED AT 2+ JURISDICTIONS
Governance Infrastructure — Cross-Cutting
The constitutional documents governing how all four layers operate. Defines naming conventions, endorsement tiers, three-axis instrument classification, version management, contribution pathways, and instrument registration. These artifacts govern the ecosystem; they don't live inside any single layer.
Architecture Document v1.2
Versioning & Review Policy v1.1
Instrument Registry Template v1.2
Ecosystem Map v2.1
Publication Plan NEW
L1 → Standard versioning and companion doc governance
L2 → Three-axis instrument classification and registry
L3 → Program naming and endorsement tiers
L4 → Adoption register and conformance tracking
Organizational Learning Debt — Cross-Cutting Theory
PLOS ONE · Under peer review
Explains why organizations accumulate a compounding gap between AI deployment and learning capacity. Four interlocking dimensions, six testable propositions, and a 16-item diagnostic instrument (OLDD). Operates across all layers: provides the theoretical rationale (L1), generates measurement constructs (L2), reframes program design via debt-dimension metadata (L3), and supplies the adoption risk framework (L4).
Capability
Infrastructure
Cultural
Gov. & Pipeline
L1 → Organizational-level theory + DAT Minimum Threshold Principle
L2 → OLD-MA & OLD-ICA instruments + OLDD diagnostic (16 items)
L3 → Debt-dimension program metadata
L4 → Adoption risk assessment lens
Research Pipeline
Published
ALiF Protocol Paper
Framework development methodology. Published on Preprints.org (Nov 2024).
Under Review
OLD Conceptual Article
Organizational learning debt framework. Submitted to PLOS ONE with medRxiv preprint strategy.
Active
SAQ Validation — Phase 1
Content validity, expert panel review (n=5–10), cognitive testing (n=10), pilot (n=20–30), and exploratory factor analysis of ALiF-SAQ v2.
Planned
Framework Introduction Paper
Comprehensive ALiF introduction. Target: Computers & Education.
Planned
SAQ Validation — Phase 2
Confirmatory factor analysis (n≥300), measurement invariance testing, criterion validity linking SAQ scores to AI tool use outcomes.
Planned
HC–HE Concordance Framework
Mapping ALiF components to major accreditation frameworks (NCAAA, CAA, WFME). Target: Q3 2026.
Where Do I Start?
Researcher
Start with
ALiF Standard v1.0r1 + Concept Paper v2
Then
Development Protocol → Instrument Registry → Research Protocol
Training Manager
Start with
Implementation Pathway Model
Then
ALiF-SAQ v2 for baseline → Select program pathway → Conformance checklist
Department Head / Dean
Start with
Institutional Adoption Guide v1.0
Then
Conforming vs Aligned decision → Adoption Charter → Contact core team
Instrument Developer
Start with
Architecture Document v1.2 (Three-axis classification)
Then
Registry Template v1.2 → Submit registry entry → Endorsement review
Policy Maker
Start with
ALiF Standard (Scope + Conformance) + Versioning Policy
Then
OLD risk framework → Concordance tables → Adoption consultation
Legend
◆ Core artifact
● Active / deployed
○ Companion document
◈ Referenced (external)
◇ Planned
⊘ Under peer review
New since v2.0
Endorsement Tiers
ALiF Core — developed by core team, full alignment
ALiF Endorsed — formally reviewed, documented alignment
ALiF Referenced — self-declared alignment, no formal review
Instrument Classification — Three Axes (Architecture Doc v1.2)
Axis 1 — Construct Alignment: Direct · Complementary · Adjacent
Axis 2 — Assessment Method: Self-Report · Mixed · Observation
Axis 3 — Unit of Analysis: Individual · Team · Organisation
Changelog from v2.0
Layer 2 — Instrument classification expanded from two-axis to three-axis system (Axis 3: Unit of Analysis — Individual / Team / Organisation) per Architecture Document v1.2
Layer 2 — OLD-MA and OLD-ICA explicitly named and classified; SAQ listed as v2 with Administrator Guide and Respondent Form as companion documents
Layer 1 — Institutional Adoption Guide v1.0 added as active companion document (addresses Conforming vs Aligned classification, Adoption Charter, and governance structure)
Layer 1 — Arabic Localisation Protocol and Government Mandate Design Guide added as planned companions (Q2 2026 and TBD)
Layer 1 — ALiF Framework Introduction Paper added to Research Publications (target: Computers & Education)
Layer 1 — DAT Minimum Threshold Principle surfaced explicitly as a normative core artifact
Layer 3 — FAIM pathways named explicitly (Learner, Educator, Researcher, Clinician, Administrator); FAIM Lesson Plans M1–M16 noted as complete
Layer 4 — MBRU added as Conforming Implementation; Adoption Charter Template and Adoption Register added; Governance Advisory Council trigger condition noted
Governance strip — Architecture Document updated from v1.1 to v1.2; Instrument Registry updated from v1.1 to v1.2; Publication Plan added
Research Pipeline — Phase 2 SAQ Validation and HC–HE Concordance Framework added as planned work
Entry Points — Department Head path updated to reference Institutional Adoption Guide; Instrument Developer path updated to reference three-axis classification and Registry v1.2
Legend — "New since v2.0" status added; Instrument Classification panel added