Teaching AI Literacy in Schools

Course Details

Choose a session. Registration deadlines March 24 and August 5

4 Self-Paced Online Course Modules

16 Credit Hours

Recommended for K-12 school librarians and educators at all levels of AI-knowledge

$289 (March) | $303 (August) | Save with early bird and group rates.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF...

You’re being asked to “address AI” at school, but you’re not sure where to start.
You want language and examples that help students understand what AI is (and what it isn’t).
You want students to use AI thoughtfully, not copy it blindly.
You need simple ways to teach prompting, evaluation, and responsible use without rewriting your whole curriculum.
You want to talk about bias, hallucinations, privacy, and transparency in a way students actually get.
You’d love lesson-ready materials you can adapt across grade levels.

Clear concepts, practical classroom applications, and ethical guardrails.

About This Course

Help students understand, question, and use AI in meaningful, responsible ways.

Self-Paced Course Materials:
Available for 6 months starting on each registration deadline date.

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the way students learn, search, and create. This course gives you a clear, school-friendly foundation for teaching AI literacy, even if you’re still learning it yourself.

This is a fully self-paced, asynchronous course. You will have six months of access to move through the material. For more details, check out the What to Expect tab.

PART OF A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION SERIES

Teaching AI Literacy in Schools is one course in The AI-Ready School Library: 3-Course Certification Series. Enroll individually, or purchase the full certification bundle at a reduced rate. (Best value.)

View certification bundle details

Enroll in Spring Session

Enroll in Summer Session

Need an invoice or PO? Orders of $600 or greater can choose invoice at checkout. For orders under $600, submit this form, and we will process your order manually.

Need approval? Email this course to your supervisor.

TRAINING A TEAM?

Build a shared language and approach to AI literacy so students get consistent guidance across classes and grade levels.

Multi-seat discounts are automatically calculated in the cart.

Buying for a larger group? Explore all purchasing options

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What You'll Learn Who This is For Course Modules Course Advisor & Instructors What to Expect

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

Define key concepts related to generative AI (GenAI) technologies in student-friendly language.
Explain, at a practical level, how GenAI tools work and why they produce the output they do.
Teach students when and how to use AI responsibly, including privacy, attribution, and transparency basics.
Apply clear criteria to help students evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy, bias, and credibility.
Explain where bias and hallucinations come from and how students can spot red flags.
Select appropriate GenAI tools for different learning tasks, based on purpose and constraints.
Create lesson-ready teaching materials grounded in AI literacy frameworks that support ethical use, evaluation skills, and understanding of AI’s societal impacts.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

If you are someone who:

Is being asked to address AI in school and wants a clear, teachable starting point.
Wants students to learn how to think with AI tools (not just copy from them).
Needs practical ways to teach prompting, evaluation, and responsible use across grade levels.
Is worried about privacy, bias, hallucinations, and “is this cheating?” conversations.
Wants lesson-ready materials grounded in real frameworks, not hot takes.

This course was built for you.

This course is especially helpful for:

K–12 school librarians who teach research, digital citizenship, or information literacy.
Library educators supporting classroom teachers with student-facing AI guidance.
Instructional leaders building schoolwide expectations for responsible AI use.
Educators who need a foundation they can adapt for different grade bands.

If you’re trying to make AI less confusing (and more teachable), you will see yourself in this course.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 4 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: Understanding AI

This module introduces key concepts in artificial intelligence (AI) and explores how generative AI technologies function. You’ll examine the history and growth of AI, learn essential terminology, understand how AI is trained, and explore a range of AI technologies. You’ll also review practical examples and instructional strategies for teaching foundational AI concepts to K–12 students, aligned with established AI literacy frameworks and guidelines. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to create teaching materials tailored to your context that support students’ understanding of AI fundamentals.

Module 2: Using AI

This module focuses on the real-world application of AI technologies and helps you determine when AI tools are appropriate for specific tasks. You’ll learn essential prompting skills for effective interaction with AI and explore ethical considerations related to AI-generated content, including data privacy, attribution, and transparency. Scenarios such as brainstorming, collaborating, refining, and delegating tasks will be explored. By the end of this module, you’ll be equipped to create grade-level and context-appropriate teaching materials that guide students toward responsible and effective AI use.

Module 3: Evaluating AI

This module addresses the critical evaluation of AI-generated content and the selection of appropriate AI tools for specific purposes. You’ll explore how training data influences AI output, including issues such as bias and hallucinations. You’ll learn processes for assessing the reliability of AI-generated information and strategies for choosing the right AI tool within a rapidly evolving landscape. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to create tailored teaching materials that empower students to critically evaluate AI output and make informed decisions about its use.

Module 4: Societal Impact of AI

This module explores the broad societal impacts of artificial intelligence at both global and individual levels. You’ll examine positive real-world applications of AI while also addressing critical concerns such as privacy, safety, environmental impact, plagiarism, and copyright. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to create teaching materials that help students understand and critically analyze the complex societal implications of AI.

COURSE ADVISOR & INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Christopher Harris, Director, Libraries and Digital Learning Services for Genesee Valley BOCES; Senior Fellow, American Library Association

Dr. Christopher Harris is the Director of the School Library System for Genesee Valley BOCES, an educational agency supporting 22 small, rural districts in Western New York. He participated in the first American Library Association Emerging Leaders program in 2007 and was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2008. In 2022, Dr. Harris was honored as a Senior Fellow of the American Library Association. He earned his Ed.D. from St. John Fisher University in 2018 for research focused on helping teachers become confident teaching computer science. Dr. Harris leads the LibraryReady.AI PK–12 curriculum project and is a frequent keynote speaker and consultant on library technologies, including artificial intelligence.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

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

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 professional work, she is a proud mom, wife, and a fierce advocate for intellectual freedom and educational equity.

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, JD, Spanish and STEAM Educator, Consultant, Attorney, Author

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and Spanish and STEAM educator. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Doctorate in Instructional Technology. Rachelle specializes in artificial intelligence, AI and the law, AI and the environment, cybersecurity, and STEM, and has more than seven years of experience teaching and presenting on AI in classrooms and professional settings worldwide. She is an ISTE-certified educator and recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen Award, as well as multiple presidential gold and silver awards for volunteer service. Rachelle is the author of ten books, including What the Tech? An Educator’s Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More! and How to Teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area, and is a frequent blogger, podcaster, and webinar facilitator.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is designed for K–12 school librarians and educators at all levels of AI knowledge who want a clear, practical path for teaching students to understand, use, and evaluate AI responsibly.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

Choose the session that works best for your schedule. Early bird pricing ends one month before the session deadline. Course materials unlock on the session deadline date.

Rate + deadline	Spring Session	Summer Session
Early bird deadline	—	July 6, 2026
Early bird price	—	$256
Standard deadline	March 24, 2026	August 5, 2026
Standard price	$289	$303
Materials unlock	March 24, 2026	August 5, 2026

GROUP OPTIONS

Training a team? Choose the setup that matches how you want to plan and pay:

Group course enrollment: Enroll 3+ staff in this course and save.

Bulk course credits: Prepay once, get the highest per-seat discount on every course, and assign seats later.

Unlimited annual licensing: System-wide access for a year with no per-course approvals.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

Questions? Email groupsales@libraryjournal.com.

COURSE FORMAT

This is a fully self-paced, asynchronous online course consisting of 4 modules. Each module includes video instruction, slides, readings, and reflective exercises designed to connect concepts directly to your work with students.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

Each module is designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete, for a total of 16 professional development hours. You may move through the course at your own pace and on your own schedule.

ALL THE DETAILS

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the way students learn, search, and create, and it’s up to educators to ensure students learn to use these tools responsibly.

In this course, you’ll build a foundation for teaching AI literacy, including how GenAI tools work, how to prompt effectively, and how to help students evaluate AI output for accuracy, bias, and credibility.

You’ll also explore ethical and societal considerations that show up in real student work, and you’ll leave with lesson-ready materials you can adapt across grade levels, grounded in established AI literacy frameworks and guidelines.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You will have access to all course materials for six months from the material unlock date.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete all modules to earn 16 professional development credit hours and a School Library Journal certificate of completion. Certificates are emailed upon completion.

If you complete all three courses in The AI-Ready School Library: 3-Course Certification Series, you will earn your AI Literacy in Schools certification from School Library Journal.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration and we will make our best efforts to support your needs.

SUPPORT

For technical or course-related support, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.

TESTIMONIALS

"My biggest takeaway from this course has been the confidence to approach the subject of AI while being in a low-technology/strict AI usage teaching environment."

– Michelle A. (Fall 2025 attendee)

"I have practical ideas of how I can embed mini-lessons on understanding AI in what I do. I also feel like I actually have a strong understanding of how AI works, which helps me understand how I can use it and teach about it with students. Great course! I highly recommend it."

– Venisha B. (Fall 2025 attendee)

"My biggest take away is that AI is not scary like I thought it was. I have begun to use AI tools in my professional and personal life now. I avoided it prior to taking the course."

– Chris B. (Fall 2025 attendee)

"It is a great introductory course for librarians everywhere. AI literacy is of paramount importance for librarians as it is not just a technological skill but a fundamental expansion of their traditional role as information professionals. The rise of AI, particularly generative AI, is reshaping how information is created, accessed, and evaluated. Librarians are uniquely positioned to guide their communities through this new landscape. I am in a TK-5 school and host Digital Citizenship lessons in my library. I am planning to add this information in those lessons, especially for my 3-5 graders."

– Tuhina L. (Fall 2025 attendee)

"My biggest takeaway from the course was tangible methods for teaching students about AI. I went into this course with very little knowledge and I now feel more capable of facilitating discussions and creating lessons that will support my students with their AI literacy skills."

– Amelia L. (Fall 2025 attendee)

"I feel more confident teaching AI tools, ethical use, and concerns around AI to students. I created some lesson plans that I can use at my school and I am thankful for the time and expertise that the instructors shared. The instructors were excellent!"

– Laurie T. (Fall 2025 attendee)

"This course and the instructors have been outstanding in every way. Not only is the course full of relevant and helpful information, it is presented in a digestible way. I found this course challenging but joyful. I am using most everything I learned in my upcoming lessons. These instructors are models for all librarians. Plus, the course itself is set up to support learning. I am so appreciative for these instructors' expertise and communication styles!"

– Fall 2025 attendee

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