Ai Teacher Crash Course

This free getting started crash course is designed to give teachers a clear, confident entry point into the use of artificial intelligence, without rushing into advanced techniques or overwhelming tools.

The course begins with an overview of what AI is in an educational context. It explains, in practical terms, how generative AI works, what it is designed to do, and where its limitations lie. Particular attention is given to the role of teacher judgement, curriculum knowledge, and ethical decision-making, so that AI is framed from the outset as a professional support tool rather than a replacement for teaching expertise.

The course then focuses on building a strong foundation in prompt quality. Rather than progressing into complex workflows or advanced automation, the emphasis remains on understanding what makes a prompt effective and why prompt quality directly determines the usefulness of AI outputs. Teachers learn how to articulate clear intent, provide appropriate context, specify constraints, and align prompts with learning goals. This section positions prompting as a core skill that underpins all future uses of AI in lesson planning, differentiation, assessment design, and resource creation.

Examples and explanations are grounded in authentic classroom tasks, helping teachers recognise common pitfalls such as vague instructions, over-generalised requests, or prompts that produce content misaligned with curriculum expectations. Teachers are guided to evaluate AI responses critically and to refine prompts through simple, deliberate adjustments.

By design, the course does not move beyond foundational prompt skills. Its purpose is to establish a shared language, conceptual clarity, and disciplined habits that can support more advanced learning later. By the end of the course, teachers will understand what AI is, how it can support their work, and how to write a high-quality prompt that produces reliable, relevant, and pedagogically sound outputs.