Generative AI Writing Tools: How They Work, What They Do, and Why They Matter

We offer insights from Bill Green’s Literacy in 3D model in order to support teachers integrating genera- tive artificial intelligence writing tools (GAIWTs) like ChatGPT into their classrooms. This model supports teachers by designing pedagogy relating to three key overlapping domains of 1) operational, 2) cultural and 3) critical literacies. We introduce the model and describe its implications for teachers who are creating learning experiences with GAIWTs, concluding that best practice in AI-related writing education needs to cautiously embrace GAIWTs by attending to all three of the model’s domains. We provide some examples of writing tasks that involve the use of GAIWTs to demonstrate how the three dimensions operate. Ultimately, we aim to inspire teachers to think about both the potential benefits and the problems that may result from students participating in a world where text is increasingly generated by AI tools.