Free AI Courses

In today’s episode, we’ll explore free online courses and resources that you and your students can use to learn more about artificial intelligence.

Paul Beckermann

PreK–12 Digital Learning Specialist

Podcast Host

Courses

AI 101 for Teachers:
- From Code.org, ETS, ISTE, and Khan Academy
- Videos with companion guides:
  - Fireside Chat with Sal Khan and Hadi Partovi (31 min.)
  - Demystifying AI for Educators (31 min.)
  - Transforming Learning with AI (24 min.)
  - Ensuring a Responsible Approach to AI (38 min.)
  - Bringing AI to the Classroom (30 min.)
  - How AI Works (8 min.)
- A slideshow about using large language model (LLM) chatbots:
  - Starter Prompts
  - Beginner Tools
  - Intermediate Tools
  - Advanced Tools
Generative AI for Educators:
- From Google and MIT RAISE
- The purpose of this course is to “learn how to use generative AI tools to help you save time on everyday tasks, personalize instruction, enhance lessons and activities in creative ways, and more.”
- Self-paced and hands-on
- The outcomes focus on using generative AI tools to:
  - Save time on everyday tasks like drafting emails and other correspondence.
  - Personalize instruction for different learning styles and abilities.
  - Enhance lessons and activities in creative ways.”
ChatGPT Foundations for K–12 Educators:
- From Common Sense Education and OpenAI
- Self-paced course with six modules:
  - What Is ChatGPT and How Does It Work?
  - Using ChatGPT for Teaching and Learning
  - ChatGPT for Productivity
  - ChatGPT for Planning
  - ChatGPT for Media Assets
  - Using ChatGPT Responsibly
Empower Educators to Explore the Potential of Artificial Intelligence:
- From Microsoft
- A 1-hour course with nine subunits:
  - Introduction (5 min.)
  - Introduction to AI (9 min.)
  - Generative AI (7 min.)
  - Large Language Models (7 min.)
  - Use AI-Powered Image Generation Capabilities Effectively (7 min.)
  - AI in Education (7 min.)
  - AI Tools for Educators and Accessibility (8 min.)
  - Knowledge Check (5 min.)
  - Summary (5 min.)
Creative and Critical Engagement With AI in Education:
- From the AI Pedagogy Project by the metaLAB (at) Harvard
- “A collection of resources for educators curious about how AI affects their students and their syllabi”:
  - Part I: AI Starter (What Is AI?, The Basics of Generative AI: Large Language Models, Incorporating AI Into Your Teaching, Glossary)
  - Part 2: LLM Tutorial (an interactive, guided demonstration of ChatGPT that allows you to apply concepts as they are introduced)
  - Part 3: Resources (a hyperlinked list of resources related to AI)

Lessons

Artificial Intelligence Lessons:
- From ISTE
- “Explore lessons from ‘unplugged’ projects to creating chatbots and simple video games that strengthen students’ AI literacy.”
- Includes downloadable PDF guides for teachers, which are available in English, Spanish, and Arabic
AI Curricula:
- From Code.org
- Self-paced learning for teachers
- Lessons and activities for students in grades K–12
- Examples:
  - How AI Makes Decisions (1-week unit)
  - Exploring Generative AI (6-week course)
  - How AI Works (8 hours of lessons)
  - AI and Ethics (1-hour lesson)
AI for Educators:
- From Microsoft
- Best suited for schools who use Microsoft products
- Includes four 1-hour modules:
  - Empower Educators to Explore the Potential of Artificial Intelligence
- - Embark on Your AI Journey With Free AI Tools From Microsoft Education
  - Enhance Teaching and Learning With Microsoft Copilot
  - Equip and Support Learners With AI Tools From Microsoft

Additional Resources

Preparing to Teach AI:
- From Code.org
- Self-paced learning for teachers:
  - Teaching Exploring Generative AI (2.5 hours; need a verified teacher account)
  - AI 101 Self-Paced Professional Learning (5 hours)
  - Teaching How AI Makes Decisions (1 hour for teachers in grades 3–5, to prepare to use the student unit)
  - Teaching AI and Machine Learning (2 hours)
AI for Educators:
- From Advance Learning – Management, Leadership & Strategy via Alison
- 1.5–3 hours
- Four modules:
  - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  - Utilizing AI for Educators
  - Responsible Use of AI in Education
  - Course Assessment
AI for Everyone:
- From DeepLearning.AI via Coursera
- Instructor: Andrew Ng
- Beginner level
- Flexible schedule, approximately 6 hours
- Four modules:
  - What Is AI?
  - Building AI Projects
  - Building AI in Your Company
  - AI and Society
AI Foundations for Everyone:
- From IBM via Coursera
- Instructors: Rav Ahuja and Antonio Cangiano
- Beginner level
- Flexible schedule, 1 month, 10 hours a week
- Four-course series:
  - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  - Generative AI: Introduction and Applications
  - Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics
  - Building AI Powered Chatbots Without Programming
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers:
- Macquarie University and IBM via Coursera
- Instructors: Dr. Anne Forbes and Dr. Markus Powling
- Beginner level
- Flexible schedule, 16 hours
- Six modules:
  - Introduction
  - Knowledge Module: What Is AI, History of AI, and Applications of AI
  - Skills Module – Part A: Design Thinking, and Critical and Creative Thinking
  - Skills Module – Part B: Data Fluency, and Computational Thinking
  - Values Module: Ethical Decision Making, and Bias Awareness
  - Conclusion
Artificial Intelligence:
- From IBM
- For students:
  - Artificial Intelligence Getting Started (explore learning activities)
  - AI Foundations: A Collaboration of ISTE and IBM (14 hours)
  - Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals (10 hours)
  - Build Your Own Chatbots (4 hours)
- For educators:
  - IBM AI Education, Powered by MindSpark Learning (14 hours)
  - Teacher Resources: Artificial Intelligence (explore lesson ideas)
  - Artificial Intelligence Curriculum Map (explore lesson ideas)
Elements of AI:
- Created by the University of Helsinki and MinnaLearn
- A series of free online courses that combine theory with practical exercises
- Available to complete at your own pace
- Two-part series:
  - Part 1: Introduction to AI (for everyone)
  - Part 2: Building AI (50 hours; more advanced; course is free; earn certificate for a fee)
An Essential Guide to AI for Educators:
- From AI for Education
- “This FREE 2-hour, hands-on course is designed to help educators get started using ChatGPT to save time, engage students, and implement AI responsibly.”
- Contents:
  - Introduction to AI
  - Getting Started With ChatGPT
  - Introduction to Prompt Engineering
  - Strategies for Using ChatGPT in Your Practice
  - The Ethical Implications of AI in Your Classroom
  - Introducing Students to AI and ChatGPT
Google AI for Anyone:
- From Google via edX
- Instructor: Laurence Moroney
- 4 weeks, 2–3 hours per week
- “A course for anyone to learn what AI is and how it works”
- Self-paced, with topics that include:
  - What AI is and isn’t
  - Applications of AI
  - Neural networks
  - Fairness and ethics
  - How AI applications can make mistakes
Intro to AI:
- From aiEDU
- A 10-week, project-based learning course that introduces the fundamentals of AI
- A variety of 45-minute teacher-led lessons
- For grades 9–12
- Includes a student workbook and lesson plans
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI):
- From IBM via Coursera
- Instructor: Rav Ahuja
- Beginner level
- Flexible schedule, approximately 13 hours
- Four modules:
  - Introduction and Applications of AI
  - AI Concepts, Terminology, and Application Domains
  - Business and Career Transformation Through AI
  - Issues, Concerns, and Ethical Considerations
Resources:
- From AI4ALL
- This site contains content related to career skills, curriculum, and AI resources for high school students. Free resources include lessons, slideshows, and handouts that can be downloaded or copied in Google formats.
- Examples include:
  - How Neural Networks Work
  - AI & Ethics
  - AI & Deepfakes
  - AI & Facial Recognition
  - Mentoring New Talent for AI Careers
AI Foundations for Educators:
- From Common Sense Education
- Free upon logging in
- Three modules:
  - What Is AI and How Does It Work?
  - Ethical and Responsible Use of AI in School
  - How Will Generative AI Impact Education?

Extend Your Learning

For more information about artificial intelligence, explore the following AVID Open Access article collection: AI in the K–12 Classroom.

#363 — Free AI Courses

AVID Open Access
10 min

Keywords
free AI courses, generative AI, AI for educators, ChatGPT foundations, AI pedagogy, AI resources, AI lessons, AI curricula, AI tools, AI literacy, AI ethics, AI productivity, AI image generation, AI large models, AI in education

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#363 – Free AI Courses

Free AI Courses

Courses

Lessons

Additional Resources

Extend Your Learning

Transcript

#363 — Free AI Courses

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