The Generative AI for Educators course is designed to help middle and high school teachers learn how ... [+]
Growing up in a family of almost all teachers, I regularly heard the litany of complaints of middle and high school educators about their jobs. They bemoaned the after-hours workload that included writing lesson plans, grading tests and administrative responsibilities, and also contended with large class sizes, disruptive behaviors, difficult conversations with parents and inadequate support and resources.
A joint venture by Google and MIT is seeking to help educators, as well as improving the educational success of their students. The collaboration offers a new no-cost Generative AI for Educators course developed by the Big Tech company and MIT's Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) initiative.
The course is designed to help middle and high school teachers learn how to use generative AI tools to personalize instruction, develop creative lessons and save time on administrative tasks. It provides hands-on practice with various generative AI tools and covers the opportunities and limitations of the technology, as well as how to use it responsibly.
The course embraces Google's expertise in artificial intelligence and RAISE's mission to promote equitable and responsible AI education. Teachers have already started obtaining the credentials and a number of school districts across the country have quickly adopted the program.
Generative AI For Educators
To learn more about the coursework, I turned to both Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, and Cynthia Breazeal, director of RAISE at MIT, who have both spearheaded this project.
The online course is self-paced and takes about two hours. The teachers who complete the program will earn a certificate that can be used for professional development credit.
The goal is to empower educators to leverage generative AI tools to enhance their teaching practices and student learning, while promoting responsible and ethical use of the technology. The course aims to make AI training more accessible for teachers, as some may lack confidence in using AI tools and desire additional AI-specific professional development resources.
Teachers who complete the course will earn a certificate that can be used for professional development credit in their school districts.
What They’re Saying About This Mission
"Google wants to ensure every educator can take advantage of the opportunities created by AI,” said Gevelber. “AI tools can help teachers easily adapt lessons and materials to different learning styles and levels, and allow them to be more efficient at everyday administrative tasks. This gives educators time back to invest in themselves and their students."
Grow with Google was founded in 2017 to help people grow their skills, careers and businesses. Since the organization’s inception, it has helped more than 11 million Americans develop new skills.
RAISE’s research and impact mission is to advance equity in learning, education and computational action to rethink and innovate how to holistically and equitably prepare diverse K-12 students, an inclusive workforce and lifelong learners to be successful, responsible and engaged in an increasingly AI-powered society.
Breazeal said about this mission, “MIT RAISE believes knowledge of generative AI is a key factor in creating a more equitable future for education." She continued, "This course empowers educators to confidently integrate AI into their teaching, creating richer and more accessible learning experiences for all students."
The course is being offered by several school districts across the U.S., including Anaheim Union High School District, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools and more.
"We are excited to be a part of this partnership with Google to equip our middle and high school teachers with transformative Generative AI professional learning courses. This responds to the need for continuous innovation in our school district,” said Jose L. Dotres, superintendent of Miami-Dade County public schools, in a testimonial.
“By empowering educators with the latest advancements in AI, we're not only uplifting their professional practices, but also giving them evolving tools to enhance the ever-changing landscape of teaching and learning,” Dotres added.
