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    Uncategorized / Free AI Literacy Courses for Teachers

    Free AI Literacy Courses for Teachers

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    AI literacy is rapidly becoming an essential skill for both educators and students. As AI continues to shape the world around us, we can no longer afford to ignore its presence. However, I recognize that many teachers—particularly those from earlier generations—still resist integrating AI into their teaching practices.

    These concerns are valid. Research confirms several risks associated with excessive AI reliance, particularly its potential negative impact on cognitive development. Studies (seereferences at the bottom of the page) indicate that over-dependence on AI can hinder critical thinking and problem-solving skills when it is used as a replacement rather than a tool for enhancement.

    Despite these concerns, the reality remains: AI is here to stay, and students are already using it daily for various tasks. Instead of resisting change, we should embrace AI as an opportunity to innovate and improve education. The issue is not AI itself, but how we integrate it into learning environments. Unfortunately, some educators stigmatize AI, which only limits its potential benefits.

    AI is among humanity’s greatest inventions, on par with fire and the printing press. To truly harness its power, we must leverage AI to enrich teaching and improve student outcomes. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that I have dedicated the past few months to exploring AI’s potential—and its limitations—in education. The positive discussions and engagement from teachers and educators on social media have been incredibly encouraging.

    To effectively integrate AI into education, teachers must first develop their own AI literacy before guiding their students. It reminds me of the airplane safety analogy: when the oxygen mask drops, you must put on your own mask before assisting others. Likewise, educators need to strengthen their AI knowledge before they can confidently teach their students how to use AI responsibly and effectively.

    Free AI Literacy Courses for Teachers

    To support this journey, I’m sharing a valuable collection of free AI courses and guides from Stanford University. These resources will help deepen your understanding of AI and guide you in creating an instructional framework that seamlessly incorporates AI into your lessons. I first came across these resources through a LinkedIn post by Clara Lin Hawking and found them incredibly insightful—so I wanted to share them with my community here.

    • AI & History-Social Science: AI-Generated Misinformation: This lesson explores how AI chatbots and image-generation models can create deceptive content. Students will examine methods for detecting AI-generated misinformation and discuss its societal impact.
    • About AI: AI or Not AI?: An engaging activity that challenges students to categorize everyday technologies, encouraging critical thinking about what truly constitutes artificial intelligence.
    • AI & History-Social Science: Fact-Checking AI Search Results: Students will learn to evaluate AI-generated information using lateral reading techniques to prevent misinformation from influencing their research and decision-making.
    • AI & Society: Mitigating Bias in AI Design: This lesson examines bias in AI training data, exploring real-world cases of overrepresentation and underrepresentation and their societal implications.
    • AI & Math: How Does FaceID Classify Images?: Students will explore facial recognition technology as a classification task, understanding how images are represented numerically in multidimensional space.
    • AI & Math: How Does FaceID Recognize Images?: A deeper dive into the role of machine learning in facial recognition, introducing students to statistical methods used for image classification and error analysis.
    • About AI: Building Your Own Chatbot: An interactive session where students design and test their own AI chatbot, learning about AI prompting and customization.
    • AI & Science: Communicating with Whales Using AI: Students will analyze whale soundwaves using AI, exploring research tools that aid marine conservation through pattern recognition.
    • AI & Language Arts: Is ChatGPT Plagiarizing?: This lesson delves into ethical concerns around generative AI, discussing its impact on creativity, academic integrity, and intellectual property.
    • AI & Language Arts: Generative AI in Narrative Writing: Students will assess AI’s role in creative writing, exploring how to balance AI-generated content with original storytelling.
    • About AI: The Global Significance of Foundation Models: A lesson on the role of foundation models in AI development and the geopolitical implications of their concentrated creation.
    • About AI: What Are Large Language Models (LLMs)?: Students will learn about the significance of LLMs, their structure, and the computational power required to train them.
    • About AI: Are BERT and ERNIE Really AI?: An introduction to various LLMs, their functions, and applications in daily life, helping students differentiate AI models from popular culture references.
    • AI & Science: AI in Natural Ecosystem Conservation: Exploring AI’s role in environmental conservation, students will analyze different AI applications used to monitor and protect ecosystems.
    • AI & History-Social Science: AI and Warfare: A critical discussion on AI’s role in modern warfare, with students developing ethical perspectives on its military applications.
    • AI & Society: Ethical AI Decision-Making: A gamified lesson engaging students in ethical dilemmas around AI, fostering discussions on responsible AI use.
    • AI & History-Social Science: Bias in AI and the Global South: This lesson explores AI bias and its disproportionate impact on underrepresented communities in developing nations.
    • About AI: How Computers Process Visual Information: Students will learn how AI interprets visual data and how bias in image recognition systems can lead to unintended consequences.
    • AI & Arts: AI in Music Generation: An exploration of AI-generated music, discussing its ability to mimic artists and the ethical implications of AI in the music industry.
    • AI & Language Arts: Can AI Improve Writing?: Students compare AI-generated and human-written texts, analyzing how AI can enhance writing while recognizing its limitations.
    • AI & Society: Algorithmic Bias in AI Applications: A discussion-based lesson on how biases in AI models impact decision-making across various industries.
    • About AI: The History of AI: A look at AI’s evolution from the 1950s to modern advancements, helping students understand how past innovations shape today’s AI.
    • AI & Society: What Is Algorithmic Bias?: Through a hiring simulation game, students will explore how algorithmic bias influences decision-making in AI systems.
    • About AI: How AI Classifies Images: An introduction to machine learning through hands-on activities with Teachable Machines, demonstrating AI’s classification capabilities.
    • AI & Society: Data Ethics in AI Algorithms: Students will examine digital footprints and ethical concerns about personal data usage in AI applications.
    • AI & Society: Where Is AI in My Life?: A reflective lesson on the presence of AI in everyday activities, encouraging students to think critically about AI’s role in their lives.
    Free AI Literacy Courses for Teachers

    Final thoughts

    AI literacy is essential, and the courses I shared above will empower you with a deeper understanding of AI’s capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations. I hope these resources provide valuable insights and practical applications for integrating AI into your teaching and learning journey. I’d love to hear about your experiences—feel free to share your feedback on our social media profiles. Looking forward to seeing how these resources help you navigate the evolving AI landscape!

    Research Papers Highlighting The impact of AI on our Cognitive Abilities

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    Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

    Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.