Course | Teaching AI Literacy in Schools

Prices

The price listed reflects the Fall session. Other pricing options are available:

• Spring 2027 Session - $299.00
• Summer 2027 Session - $299.00

For further information, please visit Library Journal website.

Description

Students do not need AI hype or panic. They need adults who can explain what AI is, what it is not, and how to use it with some judgment. This course helps you teach that in a way students can actually understand.

• Clearer ways to teach prompting, evaluation, and responsible use without rewriting your whole curriculum
• Practical language for talking about bias, hallucinations, privacy, and transparency
• More confidence building age-appropriate AI literacy across grade levels

Take this course on its own, or complete all three courses in the series to earn the AI Literacy in Schools certification from School Library Journal.

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.

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 students to use AI thoughtfully, not copy it blindly.
• You want to talk about bias, hallucinations, privacy, and transparency in a way students actually get.

This course helps you build a more useful foundation for AI literacy, so students can question what these tools do instead of just using them on autopilot.

Availability

Choose a session. Registration deadlines November 12, 2026 (Fall); March 25, 2027 (Spring); or June 3, 2027 (Summer).

Need flexibility? Once materials are released, you can start any time during your 6-month access period and move through the course at your own pace.

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 MalespinaElissa 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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Course Modules

This course consists of a 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.

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.

Invoice or PO options: Orders of $600 or greater can choose invoice at checkout. For orders under $600, please do not check out online. Submit a form on Library Journal's page, and they will process your order manually.

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 daily work.

Expected Time Commitment

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

Course Access

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

Credit & Certificate

Complete all modules to earn 16 professional development credit hours and a School Library Journal certificate of completion, which will be emailed to you.

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

Credit may be available for this course and may vary by country or institution. Please verify eligibility with Library Journal.

Accessibility

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email the Library Journal's team upon registration and they will make our best efforts to support your needs.