In an ambitious effort to equip educators with the necessary skills to navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has announced the establishment of the National Academy for AI Instruction. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the United Federation of Teachers, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, aims to provide accessible training and curriculum on AI for its 1.8 million members.
“AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges—and it’s our job as educators to make sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around,” stated AFT President Randi Weingarten.
She emphasized the irreplaceable value of the teacher-student relationship while advocating for the responsible use of technology in education.
The National Academy for AI Instruction is set to become a central hub for AI education, supported by $23 million in funding from its tech partners and situated in a state-of-the-art facility in New York City.
The academy aims to kick off training in the autumn of 2025, with the goal of reaching 400,000 educators, or approximately 10 percent of the U.S. teaching workforce, by 2030. This outreach is expected to impact over 7.2 million students nationwide.
At the AI Academy, educators will not only learn how to utilize AI tools but also have the opportunity to co-design them.
This hands-on approach allows teachers to offer feedback directly to developers, thereby influencing how these tools are integrated into classrooms across the country.
The training program will include workshops, online courses, and practical sessions designed by a combination of AI professionals and seasoned educators.
This diverse approach ensures that teachers will be optimally prepared to engage with an AI-driven educational environment.
By fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations, the program aims to establish a national model of AI-integrated teaching practices.
Additionally, ongoing support and resources will be made available to educators through Share My Lesson, the AFT’s digital learning platform, keeping them informed about the latest advancements in AI technology.
Innovation labs and continuous feedback mechanisms will also allow educators to refine AI tools based on genuine classroom experiences.
Weingarten highlighted the significance of this initiative, stressing that as AI becomes more prevalent in various facets of life, the goal should be to harness this technology rather than chase after it.
She voiced concerns that without the active involvement of educators and their unions in shaping AI technology, decisions could fall into the hands of those who may not prioritize the needs of educators and students.
The partnership between the AFT and leading tech companies marks a historic collaboration, representing the first time an education union has collaborated with tech giants to prioritize the voices of educators in the realm of AI.
This initiative reinforces the critical leadership role of teachers in shaping the future of education in the age of technology.
Weingarten concluded with a powerful statement: “Teachers must be in charge of education—not the tool, not the machine.
We’re choosing the GPS system, not the driverless car, so that we can navigate it, harness it, and utilize it for the beneficial outcomes AI can provide, while ensuring the safety and security of our students.”
The National Academy for AI Instruction thus aims to empower educators to effectively integrate AI into their teaching methodologies, ensuring a positive trajectory for both education and society.
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