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"In this course, you’ll learn about generative AI, which is a type of AI that creates new content, such as text, images, or other media. You’ll explore how to use generative AI tools to assist your teaching practice by saving time on everyday tasks, personalizing instruction to meet student needs, and enhancing lessons and activities in creative ways. Gemini and ChatGPT are examples of generative AI tools that are used with conversational prompts; in other words, you ask the AI tool for something, and it responds to your request. Throughout this course, you’ll discover proven strategies for working with AI tools and practice using these tools to plan and update lessons, prepare instructional materials, manage behind-the-scenes administrative tasks, and lots more!"

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for decades; however, with the introduction of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, there has been a newfound focus on how technology tools can impact the educational landscape. The AI revolution in industry is upon us and is beginning to establish itself as a permanent part of educational practice as evidenced by Lucarillo, Nagel, Hardman, and others. Therefore, it is crucial to equip teachers with the skills to use AI in ways that ensure a high-quality education for the students in classrooms across the globe.

The urgency to upskill teachers is highlighted by the gap in skills that already exists in classrooms today, underscoring the digital divide. Just as in any content area, students come to classrooms with varying readiness levels and educational needs; using AI is no different. For example, there are preschoolers who play games on an iPad with empowered intelligent tutors. My prereading granddaughter uses AI predictive text programs, dictation technology, and iconography to text me from her mother's phone and to locate videos and programs she wants to watch. Some children, like her, have access, while there are many others who have no exposure or use of AI. Educators are encountering students at different AI literacy levels, and this divide will continue to grow. Therefore, teachers need to build the skillsets to increase their AI literacy and integration to develop more digital equity, serving students who are at a low readiness level, as well as those who are using AI as a writing partner.

"Educators are having a very different experience with
generative artificial intelligence (AI) since the 2022-23 school
year came to a close. K-12 schools have now had the opportunity
to take a breath and regroup to determine how to get a grip on the
explosion of generative AI in the classroom – after the education
sector was caught off guard when ChatGPT burst abruptly onto the scene during the last school year.

To understand how teachers are currently interacting with and
receiving support on this technology, the Center for Democracy &
Technology (CDT) conducted a nationally representative survey of
middle and high school teachers in November and December 2023.

This research builds on previous CDT findings that highlighted how
schools were failing to enact and/or share policies and procedures
on generative AI and how, as a result, teachers lacked clarity and
guidance, were more distrustful of students, and reported that
students were getting in trouble due to this technology. "