MindSpark Learning Offers New Responsible AI Course for Educators

• By Kate Lucariello
• 04/20/23

Non-profit education training and consulting organization MindSpark has added a new on-demand course to its foundation AI training library: “Responsible AI (RAI).” The course, for teachers and school administrators, was created with the help of generative AI, and is not just “about artificial intelligence — it is artificial intelligence,” according to the organization.

The idea for the course is that “the most effective way to learn about AI is from the technology itself, creating an interactive experience unmarred by overly technical lectures,” the organization said in a release. The course introduces AI and its features, but also demonstrates AI in performance and examines ethical issues involved in using it responsibly by both educators and students.

AI may have helped MindSpark write the course, but can it help write lesson plans?

“You’ll test that theory here, gaining relevant and authentic case examples of how this technology applies to your life, your job, and to students’ education,” MindSpark said in a release.

By the end of the course, according to an introductory video, learners can expect to have achieved eight goals:

1. Describe AI and its various forms;

2. Explain AI’s importance and what problems it addresses;

3. Describe an RAI human-centered design;

4. Outline RAI anti-bias solutions;

5. Identify the ethical issues of using AI;

6. Describe and discuss the positive aspects of explainable AI (XAI).

7. List what goes into a secure AI system that can be monitored;

8. Discuss the elements of justifiable AI in classroom use.

The creation of this course used several features: NLP (Natural Language Processing) for video scripts, text-to-speech audio narration, talking video avatars, Dall-E 2 image generation, and ChatGPT to answer questions and create lesson plans. Participants will be asked to give feedback on the various outputs used in course material creation and how AI can assist in this. Educators will also learn the limitations of AI and discuss how it can best help them in creating their own course materials.

Go to the Responsible AI course page to learn more. Cost of the course is $199. Go here to sign up.

Educators may also be interested in MindSpark’s nine free foundational live and on-demand AI webinars. MindSpark partnered with IBM to form IBM AI Education, an online, immersive suite of professional webinars that teach AI concepts and their K–12 classroom applications. Topics include an introduction to AI, NLP, AI ethics, and robotics. To learn more and see webinar topics, visit the IBM AI Education page.

For an article debunking myths about AI, read MindSpark’s blog “Why Artificial Intelligence Belongs in ALL K–12 Classrooms.”

“It's imperative for teachers to learn how to infuse their content and curriculum with the knowledge, skills, and values driving innovation in AI today so that their students are prepared to be successful in the modern workforce, regardless of their career paths,” the organization said. “AI is here. It’s important to learn about, teach, and understand, and MindSpark is here to help to guide, nurture, educate and light the fuse that generates success – your success teaching your students.”