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In a nod to educators’ desire to become more comfortable using AI in teaching and learning, Common Sense Media and OpenAI have launched “ChatGPT Foundations for K-12 Educators,” a free course designed to help teachers understand and responsibly implement the basics of AI into their work in the classroom.
Free for all educators and school districts, the one-hour, eight-lesson course provides educators with essential knowledge about AI and approaches for ensuring student safety and privacy.
“Schools across the country are grappling with new opportunities and challenges as AI reshapes education, with our research showing that seven in 10 students are already using tools like ChatGPT for their schoolwork,” said Robbie Torney, Senior Director of AI Programs at Common Sense. “With this course, we are taking a proactive approach to support and educate teachers on the front lines and prepare for this transformation.”
The course has been piloted in nearly a dozen school districts, including Agua Fria Union High School District and the Challenger School, with promising early results. It covers essential topics including AI fundamentals, data privacy considerations, ethical use guidelines, and ideas for how to incorporate AI into educators’ daily work.
“We’re in the early stages of AI adoption in K-12, and it will take all of us–educators, technologists, and organizations–working together to ensure this technology enables teachers and improves learning outcomes for students,” said Leah Belsky, VP and General Manager of Education at OpenAI. “Our first priority is to equip educators with resources to use OpenAI’s tools thoughtfully and set the classroom standard for responsible use. This course, in partnership with a trusted organization like Common Sense, offers this critical foundation.”
The launch marks the first milestone in a broader partnership between Common Sense and OpenAI announced in January 2024, aimed at developing AI guidelines and educational materials for parents, educators, and young people.
Educators can access the course at commonsense.org/education/training/chatgpt-k12-foundations For more information about Common Sense’s AI initiatives, visit www.commonsense.org/ai.
This press release originally appeared online.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
