Artificial intelligence is reshaping education, but figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming.
The good news? You don’t need hours of research or technical skills to dive in. I’ve pulled together 7 of the best free AI courses for teachers, each designed to help you use AI tools in your classroom in practical and meaningful ways. First up: a quick and powerful course from Monsha that’s perfect for busy teachers.
What are the best free AI courses for teachers?
Here are the best free AI courses available online, all offered by trusted and reputable organizations:
1. Generative AI for Educators and Teachers by Monsha
If you’re looking for a quick, practical way to get started with AI in your teaching, Generative AI for Educators and Teachers by Monsha is a great first step. This free, self-paced course is designed to help educators understand what AI is, how it works, and—most importantly—how it can make your life easier in the classroom.
In just 20-30 minutes, you’ll learn actionable ways to use AI tools for lesson planning, resource creation, and engaging students, while earning a badge and certificate along the way.
What This Course Covers
- An introduction to generative AI and its relevance for teachers
- Practical ways to use AI for creating resources and engaging students
- How AI can help with tasks like lesson planning or grading
- Ethical best practices for using AI, including privacy and understanding its limitations
Key Features
- Duration: 20-30 minutes
- Certification: Badge and certificate provided upon completion
- Format: Self-paced, online, with no prior experience required
Why Take This Course?
We built this course because we know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate new tools, especially something as complex as AI. This course is short, focused, and designed for busy educators who want to see real benefits without getting lost in jargon. By the end, you’ll feel confident enough to start exploring AI in your work.
How to Access
Head to Monsha’s course page to get started. It’s completely free and takes just a few clicks to enroll.
Why We Recommend It
This course is straightforward, no fluff, and made with teachers in mind. If you’re curious about AI but don’t know where to begin, this is the perfect way to dip your toes in. Plus, it’s quick—you can complete it in under half an hour and start applying what you’ve learned right away. Click below to start!
2. Generative AI for Educators by Google
It’s a free, self-paced course developed in collaboration with MIT RAISE, designed to help teachers integrate AI into their teaching practices. It covers using generative AI tools to save time on tasks, personalize instruction, and enhance lessons creatively.
What This Course Covers
This course provides a foundational understanding of AI, focusing on practical applications in education. Educators learn to use AI tools for drafting communications, tailoring instruction to diverse learning styles, and enriching classroom activities.
Key Features
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Certification: Certificate upon completion, which can be presented for professional development credit, subject to district and state requirements
- Format: Self-paced with hands-on, practical experience
- Accessibility: No prior AI experience required
Who Should Take This Course
This course is ideal for middle and high school educators across all subjects who are interested in leveraging AI to enhance their teaching efficiency and effectiveness.
What You’ll Learn
- Utilizing AI tools to streamline routine tasks like drafting emails
- Personalizing instruction to accommodate various learning styles and abilities
- Creatively enhancing lessons and classroom activities with AI
How to Access
The course is available through Google’s Grow with Google platform. Educators can enroll by visiting the course page and signing in with a Google account.
Why We Recommend It
“Generative AI for Educators” offers practical, hands-on experience with AI tools, empowering teachers to work smarter and enhance student learning. Its collaboration with MIT RAISE ensures high-quality content tailored for educators.
3. AI for Educators by Microsoft
It’s a free, self-paced learning path designed to help educators explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. It covers essential AI concepts, techniques, tools, and practical applications to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
What This Course Covers
The course offers a comprehensive overview of AI, including:
- A brief history of AI
- Understanding large language models (LLMs) and generative AI
- Prompt engineering techniques
- Responsible use of AI in education
- Practical applications of AI in classroom settings
It provides practical strategies and resources for effectively leveraging AI to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Key Features
- Duration: Self-paced
- Certification: Not specified
- Format: Online modules with interactive components
- Accessibility: No prior AI experience required
Who Should Take This Course
This course is ideal for K-12 and higher education educators interested in integrating AI into their teaching practices to enhance efficiency and student engagement.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand fundamental AI concepts and terminology
- Apply AI tools to streamline educational tasks
- Develop strategies for introducing AI concepts to students
- Navigate ethical considerations related to AI in education
How to Access
The course is available through Microsoft’s Learn platform. Educators can enroll by visiting the AI for Educators page and signing up.
Why We Recommend It
“AI for Educators” offers a solid foundation in AI tailored specifically for educators, empowering them to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices and enhance student learning outcomes.
4. An Essential Guide to AI for Educators by AI for Education
It’s a free, self-paced, 2-hour hands-on course designed to help educators integrate AI into their teaching practices. It focuses on using tools like ChatGPT to save time, engage students, and implement AI responsibly.
What This Course Covers
The course introduces educators to AI fundamentals, including:
- Getting started with ChatGPT
- Prompt engineering
- Strategies for using ChatGPT in educational practice
- Ethical implications of AI in the classroom
- Methods for introducing students to AI and ChatGPT
It provides practical strategies and resources for effectively leveraging AI tools in education.
Key Features
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Certification: Not specified
- Format: Self-paced, online
- Accessibility: No prior AI experience required
- Resources: Access to a curated Prompt Library developed specifically for educators
Who Should Take This Course
This course is ideal for:
- Education professionals
- Private educators/tutors
- Homeschooling parents and teachers
- K-12 educators
- K-12 school/district leaders
- Higher education faculty
It caters to those interested in integrating AI into their teaching practices to enhance efficiency and student engagement.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Utilize ChatGPT to streamline lesson planning and administrative tasks
- Create engaging, personalized learning experiences for students
- Develop strategies and activities for introducing AI concepts to students
- Understand and address the ethical implications of AI in the classroom
How to Access
The course is available through AI for Education’s website. Educators can enroll by visiting the course page and signing up.
Why We Recommend It
“An Essential Guide to AI for Educators” offers practical, hands-on experience with AI tools, empowering teachers to work more efficiently and enhance student learning. The inclusion of a curated Prompt Library specifically for educators adds significant value, providing ready-to-use resources for classroom integration.
5. AI for Education by Khan Academy
It’s a free, self-paced course designed to help educators understand and integrate artificial intelligence into their teaching practices. It covers AI fundamentals, practical classroom applications, and ethical considerations, providing educators with the knowledge to effectively utilize AI tools.
What This Course Covers
The course offers a comprehensive overview of AI, including:
- Understanding AI concepts and terminology
- Exploring AI’s role in education
- Implementing AI tools in classroom settings
- Addressing ethical implications of AI in education
It provides practical strategies and resources for effectively leveraging AI to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Key Features
- Duration: Self-paced
- Certification: Not specified
- Format: Online modules with interactive components
- Accessibility: No prior AI experience required
Who Should Take This Course
This course is ideal for educators at all levels who are interested in integrating AI into their teaching practices to enhance efficiency and student engagement.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand fundamental AI concepts
- Apply AI tools to streamline educational tasks
- Develop strategies for introducing AI concepts to students
- Navigate ethical considerations related to AI in education
How to Access
The course is available through Khan Academy’s platform. Educators can enroll by visiting the course page and signing up.
Why We Recommend It
“AI for Education” offers a solid foundation in AI tailored specifically for educators, empowering them to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices and enhance student learning outcomes.
6. AI 101 for Teachers by Code.org
It’s a free, self-paced online learning series designed to help educators understand and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their teaching practices. Developed in partnership with ETS, ISTE, and Khan Academy, this course demystifies AI, explores responsible implementation, addresses bias, and showcases how AI-powered learning can enhance student outcomes.
What This Course Covers
The course offers a comprehensive overview of AI, including:
- Fundamentals of AI and its societal impact
- Practical applications of AI in education
- Ethical considerations and responsible AI use
- Strategies for integrating AI into classroom instruction
It features engaging sessions with renowned experts, providing educators with the knowledge to effectively utilize AI tools.
Key Features
- Duration: Approximately 5 hours
- Certification: Certificate of completion available
- Format: Self-paced online modules with interactive components
- Accessibility: No prior AI experience required
Who Should Take This Course
This course is ideal for K-12 educators across all subjects who are interested in understanding AI and its potential to transform education. It’s suitable for those looking to integrate AI into their teaching practices to enhance efficiency and student engagement.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand fundamental AI concepts and terminology
- Recognize the impact of AI on society and education
- Apply AI tools to streamline educational tasks
- Develop strategies for introducing AI concepts to students
- Navigate ethical considerations related to AI in education
How to Access
The course is available through Code.org’s platform. Educators can enroll by visiting the course pageAI 101 for Teachers page and signing up.
Why We Recommend It
“AI 101 for Teachers” offers a solid foundation in AI tailored specifically for educators, empowering them to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices and enhance student learning outcomes. The collaboration with esteemed partners ensures high-quality content relevant to today’s educational landscape.
7. AI for Teachers and Educators by Udemy
It’s a free, self-paced course designed to help educators understand and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their teaching practices. It covers AI fundamentals, practical classroom applications, and ethical considerations, providing educators with the knowledge to effectively utilize AI tools.
What This Course Covers
The course offers a comprehensive overview of AI, including:
- Understanding AI concepts and terminology
- Exploring AI’s role in education
- Implementing AI tools in classroom settings
- Addressing ethical implications of AI in education
It provides practical strategies and resources for effectively leveraging AI to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Key Features
- Duration: Self-paced
- Certification: Not specified
- Format: Online modules with interactive components
- Accessibility: No prior AI experience required
Who Should Take This Course
This course is ideal for educators at all levels who are interested in integrating AI into their teaching practices to enhance efficiency and student engagement.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand fundamental AI concepts and terminology
- Apply AI tools to streamline educational tasks
- Develop strategies for introducing AI concepts to students
- Navigate ethical considerations related to AI in education
How to Access
The course is available through Udemy’s platform. Educators can enroll by visiting the course page and signing up.
Why We Recommend It
“AI for Teachers and Educators” offers a solid foundation in AI tailored specifically for educators, empowering them to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices and enhance student learning outcomes.
Which AI Course Should Educators Take First?
If you’re wondering where to start, the Generative AI for Educators and Teachers course by Monsha is an excellent first step. This quick, 20-30 minute course will give you the confidence and practical tools to begin using AI in your classroom effectively. Click below to start!
