Artificial Intelligence in Education & Training
What is AI literacy?
AI literacy is the combination of technical competencies and ethical understanding needed to use artificial intelligence effectively, critically, and responsibly. At CETE, teaching about AI includes both developing practical skills, such as prompt engineering and prompt design, and providing explicit instruction on the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies.
Literacy vs. Fluency
AI literacy involves not only knowing how to use AI tools, but also understanding how to engage with them thoughtfully, appropriately, and with integrity. AI fluency, by contrast, refers to the ability to apply, adapt, and innovate with AI tools in more advanced and context-specific ways, such as using AI within an existing area of specialized knowledge or professional practice.
Who We Are
The Artificial Intelligence in Education & Training program area is a dedicated research and development (R&D) initiative committed to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) in education and workforce training.
As part of CETE, housed within the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, our program leverages interdisciplinary expertise to bridge the gap between the rapid evolution of AI technologies and the preparedness of educators, trainers, and professionals. Our vision is to foster a generation that is not only proficient in AI but also responsible in its application, ensuring ethical and effective integration into education and the workforce.
What We Do
The Artificial Intelligence in Education & Training program area works to enhance AI literacy, responsible AI use, and workforce readiness by offering a range of activities that include:
- Research & Development: Conducting impactful research to explore the most effective ways to integrate AI into education and training.
- Professional Learning & Training: Providing educators, trainers, and learning designers with resources, tools, and training to effectively incorporate AI in teaching and workforce development.
- Curriculum & Resource Development: Creating educational materials, frameworks, and evidence-based practices that support AI education and literacy.
- Consultation & Partnership Opportunities: Collaborating with organizations to provide expert guidance, in-house training, and customized AI education solutions.
CETE aims to transform AI education and workforce training by partnering with individuals and organizations to harness AI’s potential while navigating its challenges responsibly.
Projects
AI for Adult Learning and Workforce Training: Practical Skills for Modern Instruction
Grounded in adult‑learning principles, our interactive workshops focus on ethical and responsible AI use, hands‑on exploration, and problem‑centered activities that connect directly to teaching, training, and job‑specific responsibilities. Participants work collaboratively using their own devices to develop effective prompts, test AI platforms, and apply new concepts to lesson design, training development, communication, documentation, and workflow improvement.
AI in the Classroom: Empowering Teaching, Enhancing Learning in K-12 Contexts
CETE’s Curriculum and Training program area offers professional development designed to strengthen educators’ capacity to incorporate emerging technologies into teaching and learning. We support instructors and administrative staff across educational settings in developing foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) and exploring how AI tools can enhance both instructional practice and day-to-day professional tasks.
Career-Tech Teacher Professional Development Workshop on the Use of AI Tools
At this half-day interactive session, participants begin by identifying gaps in their personal knowledge and skills related to the workshop content. Employing a specialized framework, participants use generative artificial intelligence (genAI) tools as instructional advisors to guide self-reflection and highlight opportunities to improve their own technical understanding and instructional skills. Then, using testing data from WebXam, these instructors identify the knowledge and skill gaps of their students.
Future Fluent Families: Building AI Literacy
As generative artificial intelligence continues to reshape the landscape of modern work and daily life, the Future Fluent Families project provides a proactive solution for career readiness. This research project involves the development and piloting of a home-based curriculum that allows parents and middle-school students to explore AI technology together. The curriculum focuses on building critical thinking skills, ethical usage habits, and technical fluency.
AI Literacy for Families and Schools
As part of CETE’s AI in education & training program area, the Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Families and Schools Project is dedicated to supporting families and educators with the knowledge and tools to navigate an AI-driven world. In partnership with the family engagement program area, this initiative bridges the gap between home and school by providing AI literacy resources, professional learning sessions, and immersive experiences that help parents and teachers integrate AI into student learning.
Building Internal Capacity and Advancing Scholarship in AI at CETE
As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and responsible technology use, CETE has launched an internal initiative to train the members of the CETE community in the safe, ethical, and effective use of generative AI (GenAI). This initiative focuses on equipping members of the CETE community with tools and strategies to thoughtfully integrate GenAI into their daily work as a way of boosting productivity while remaining critical of the technology’s limitations and potential risks.
Program Team
Ana-Paula Correia, PhD
Director Of CETE
Sean Hickey, PhD
Deputy Director of Assessment
Greg Nagy
Application Developer
Alicia Willis, MA Ed
Senior Instructional Design Specialist
Zack Batsaikhan, M.Sc.
Graduate Research Associate
