Ethical AI Research Skills for Students (Spring 2026)

AFTER YOU ATTEND THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Clearly define ethical considerations related to AI tools in educational and research contexts.
  
  
• Utilize multiple AI-powered tools strategically within the student research process.
  
  
• Critically evaluate AI-generated and traditional information for accuracy, bias, and credibility using information literacy practices.
  
  
• Create inclusive, accessible, and ethically sound instructional materials and lesson plans integrating AI.
  
  
• Guide students to ethically acknowledge AI contributions and cite information properly in their work.
  
  
• Support students in applying ethical AI practices beyond research, including presentations and creative projects.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 4 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: Understanding the Research Process in the Age of AI

Build a foundational understanding of how AI intersects with the research process. Explore the ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy and examine how ethical considerations influence the way students find, use, and apply information.

Module 2: Using AI Tools to Define Topics and Locate Information

Learn how to help students use AI tools to develop research questions and locate sources effectively. Examine how to teach strategic searching while emphasizing the ethical use of generative AI tools.

Module 3: Evaluating and Synthesizing AI-Generated and Traditional Sources

Explore how to teach students to critically evaluate AI-generated content alongside traditional sources. Discuss common ethical dilemmas and build skills for synthesizing information into original work.

Module 4: Citing Sources and Teaching Ethical AI Use

Understand how to guide students in properly citing all sources, including AI tools. Create instructional materials that emphasize responsible, inclusive, and accessible research practices supported by AI, and explore how to extend these practices to creative and presentation-based student work.

Elissa Malespina, B.C.A.S.E., Teacher Librarian in New Jersey and Author of The AI School Librarians Newsletter on Substack

Elissa Malespina is an award-winning school librarian, educational consultant, former school board member, and author who specializes in helping educators and librarians integrate AI into teaching and learning. She is the author of AI in the Library: Strategies, Tools and Ethics for Today's Schools and writes The AI School Librarians Newsletter, a Substack publication focused on practical AI tools, ethical guidance, and instructional strategies.

Outside of her work, she's a proud mom, wife, and a fierce advocate for intellectual freedom and educational equity.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE:

This course is designed for K-12 school librarians and educators with basic AI-prompting skills.

THIS WILL BE A SELF-PACED, ASYNCHRONOUS COURSE.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT:

This course includes 4 modules, each designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete. You can move through the content at your own pace and on your own schedule. You'll earn 16 hours of PD credit and a School Library Journal certificate of completion.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS:

You'll have access to all course materials for six months.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION:

Complete the course and earn 16 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you

If you complete all 3 courses in the AI Literacy in Schools series, you will earn your AI Literacy in Schools certification from School Library Journal.

ACCESSIBILITY:

All video recordings feature auto captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

SUPPORT:

For support with online courses, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.

DISCOUNTED RATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY.

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GROUP RATES

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

For support with group purchases, please contact groupsales@libraryjournal.com.