"

Culminating Project: AI in Your Field — Insight, Ethics, and Action 

Putting your AI literacy into practice in the real world

Important Note

To earn this microcedential, students must complete the following assignment and email it to DLCenter@MontgomeryCollege.edu

If you have any questions, or need help/guidance completing this assignment, please contact the Digital Learning Center.

 

Purpose:
This project is your opportunity to showcase the depth of your AI literacy in a real-world, career-connected context. You will investigate how AI is being used in a field you are interested in or currently in (e.g., healthcare, education, law enforcement, journalism, business, trades) and use your learning from this course to explore the implications, challenges, and opportunities of AI in that space.

Prompt:

Step 1: Choose a Field of Interest

Pick a field or profession you’re drawn to or currently in. This can be related to your major, career goals, or personal interests.

 

Step 2: Investigate AI Use

Research how artificial intelligence (AI) is currently being used in your selected field. Your investigation should include the following:

  • Specific AI tools, platforms, or systems: Refer to examples in the course Pressbook to guide your selection.
  • Types of applications: Describe how AI is being used, such as for automation, decision support, personalization, or other relevant functions.
  • Impacts on the field: Consider how AI affects workers, workflows, equity, and outcomes within the profession.
  • Your explanation should reflect how AI impacts workers, systems, equity, and outcomes in this sector. Use at least one example of an actual AI tool/platform used in that field (e.g., DALL-E in design, Epic Systems in healthcare, Grammarly in writing).

To complete your research:

  • Use reliable, published sources such as academic journals, news or magazine articles, and professional publications from the past 10 years.
  • You may use generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Gemini) to assist in gathering or summarizing information. However, you are expected to apply the AI literacy skills developed in this course:
  • Double-check all facts for accuracy.
  • Verify the credibility of your sources.
  • Cross-reference information using multiple reputable publications.

If you are unsure whether a source is credible or need help locating sources, consult the Montgomery College Library or use the Library’s online Research Help service.

 

Step 3: Apply Your AI Literacy

Using the knowledge from this microcredential:

  • Identify blind spots, risks, or ethical challenges relating to the use of AI in your chosen field (e.g., bias, privacy, environmental impact, transparency)
  • Consider environmental impacts (e.g., energy use, e-waste, water consumption) of AI systems in your field, referencing materials such as the UNEP Issues Note.
  • Analyze who may be most affected (e.g., marginalized communities, workers, consumers)
  • Demonstrate how you used AI tools/frameworks to support your process (e.g., prompt crafting, revisions, output evaluation) and describe how you selected the right tool for your goal.
  • Include at least one example of a revised or refined prompt and explain why it improved the output.
  • Describe what tools you used (e.g., ChatGPT, NotebookLM) and why they were appropriate for different tasks.
  • Use at least three technical terms from the course (e.g., LLM, embeddings, hallucinations, prompt engineering, transformer architecture) to explain your process and reflect on the strengths and limits of AI in your field.

 

Step 4: Propose Solutions and Personal Action

Demonstrate how a responsible AI user can:

  • Ethically and effectively use AI in this field, drawing from the ethical AI frameworks discussed in this course
  • Mitigate harms or raise awareness
  • Stay informed and adapt to AI’s evolution in the workplace

 

Submission Options (Choose One):

  • 3–5 Page Research Report (900–1500 words, APA or MLA format)

OR

  • Presentation Slides (10–15 slides with speaker notes, visuals, and citations APA or MLA format)

OR

  • Video Essay (5–7 minutes, recorded voice or on-camera, includes cited visuals APA or MLA format)

 

Minimum Requirements:

  • Use at least 3 credible sources (peer-reviewed articles, professional orgs, government reports, magazines, and news articles). If you’re unsure how to find credible sources, consider scheduling an appointment with a Montgomery College librarian through the library’s Research Help service.
  • Address all 5 domains of the rubric at the “Competent” level or higher
  • Include a short reflection (150–250 words) on what you learned about yourself as a future professional and AI user. Reflect on how AI may shape your future career path, how you plan to stay current with AI tools, and how your values inform your use of AI in work settings.
  • Cite all sources properly (APA/MLA, or video slide credits)

 

Assessment Criteria:

Your project will be evaluated using the AI Literacy for Career & College Success Microcredential Rubric (2025). To earn the microcredential, you must:

  • Earn a minimum total score of 10 points
  • Achieve a “Competent” (2) or “Accomplished” (3) score in each of the 5 rubric domains:
    • Understand What AI Is and Isn’t
    • Recognize AI in the Real World
    • Use AI Effectively
    • Use AI Responsibly
    • Prepare for the Future with AI

 

Note:

If you have any questions, email DLCenter@MontgomeryCollege.edu

 

Media Attributions

  • Sep 13, 2025, 06_59_38 PM

License

AI Literacy for Career & College Success Copyright © by Daniel Umana, MSEd. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book