Iowa State Develops Micro-Credential Course to Boost AI Skills for K-12 Educators

The new Critical AI in Education Pathways course aims to help teachers build critical AI literacy and prepare students for an AI-enabled future.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:38am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a laptop or tablet interface, repeated in a tight grid pattern, representing the growing presence of AI technology in education.As AI tools become ubiquitous in classrooms, a new micro-credential course aims to equip teachers with the critical skills to navigate this evolving landscape.Ames Today

With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence tools, teachers may find themselves learning AI technology at the same time (or even behind) their students. To address this challenge, Iowa State researcher Evrim Baran and her team have developed a new micro-credential course designed to help K-12 educators build critical AI literacy skills using real classroom examples.

Why it matters

As AI becomes an integral part of students' lives and futures, there is a growing need for teachers to develop the skills to navigate, understand, and teach AI responsibly. This course aims to empower educators to lead their students through the opportunities and challenges of an AI-enabled world.

The details

The new Critical AI in Education Pathways micro-credential course is offered fully online and self-paced, allowing educators to start whenever they are ready. The course features five modules covering the foundations of AI, the ethics of AI in education, pedagogical integration, implementation, and human-centered AI in education. The course is designed to be 'beginner friendly' and does not require a technical background. Educators who successfully complete the course may request a renewal credit certificate issued by the Iowa State School of Education.

  • The Critical AI in Education Pathways micro-credential course is available now through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach store.

The players

Evrim Baran

Professor of educational technology and human-computer interaction, and the Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair in the college of health and human sciences at Iowa State University. She is the project director of the Critical AI in Education Pathways Initiative at Iowa State.

Winterset Community School District

A school district in Iowa that serves approximately 1,550 students and employs more than 100 teachers. The district is collaborating with Iowa State on the Critical AI in Education Pathways Initiative.

Chad Sussex

Assistant principal for grades 7-12 in the Winterset Community School District and the leader of the district's AI task force.

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What they’re saying

“Teachers are looking for guidance regarding AI that goes deeper than simple tutorials or product demonstrations. They want to build critical judgement skills - and not just proficiency - so they can better prepare their students for an AI-integrated future.”

— Evrim Baran, Professor of educational technology and human-computer interaction

“As AI continues to become an integral part of our lives - and our students' futures - there's tremendous value for all of us in sharing what we learn and understand with each other.”

— Chad Sussex, Assistant principal

What’s next

The Critical AI in Education Pathways micro-credential course is available now through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach store. Educators can access the course and learn more at https://education.iastate.edu/learn-by-doing/micro-credentials.

The takeaway

This new course from Iowa State University aims to empower K-12 teachers with the critical AI literacy skills they need to prepare students for an AI-enabled future, addressing a growing need as AI becomes more prevalent in classrooms and students' daily lives.