Free AI Learning Resources for Educators
Where to start learning AI for teaching without spending a penny.
One word to sum up what educators are feeling about AI - confusion.
AI seems to be everywhere, but it’s hard to know what it can and can’t do, what actions you need to take (if any). Some are sticking their heads in the sand, some are sure it’s going to take over the world (and their jobs). Most are somewhat curious, but too busy to spend hours searching online to end up even more confused.
Good news: you don’t need to spend a penny to get a solid grounding in how AI can actually help you in the classroom. I’ve rounded up the best free AI resources for teachers — ones that are well-made, teacher-focused, and respect your time and privacy.
Let’s dive into the good stuff.
Each of these is 100% free and worth bookmarking:
🔗 OpenAI Academy
Self-paced courses, webinars, and educator discussions straight from the folks who made ChatGPT. Great if you want to understand the basics and how to use AI practically in your teaching.
Best for: Curious beginners who want to try AI in real-world classroom tasks.
🔗 Generative AI for Educators (Google + MIT RAISE)
A two-hour course that feels like a crash course in classroom AI. Short, sharp, and very practical.
Best for: Teachers who want a clear overview without tech overwhelm.
🔗 MIT RAISE
Focused on K–12, but adaptable. Excellent for promoting AI literacy with students and families.
Best for: Primary/secondary teachers and digital leaders.
🔗 Common Sense AI Literacy Lessons
Bite-sized (20 minutes or less) lessons for ages 11–18. Covers ethics, bias, and how AI works — all ready to use in class.
Best for: Citizenship, PSHE, or ICT lessons.
🔗 CRAFT by Stanford
Co-designed AI literacy resources for high school classrooms. Helps students critique AI — not just use it.
Best for: Humanities and social studies teachers.
🔗 AI Pedagogy Project
An open library of AI-powered assignment ideas. Creative, thought-provoking, and highly adaptable.
Best for: Teachers ready to experiment with AI in student learning.
🔗 Prompt Engineering Guide
A deep dive into how to craft better prompts for tools like ChatGPT and Claude.
Best for: Confident users looking to fine-tune their AI skills.
🔗 AI 101 for Teachers (Code.org)
Simple, accessible, and beginner-friendly. Covers what AI is, how it works, and how to use it with students.
Best for: Newcomers or teachers doing school-wide training.
🔗 ISTE AI Explorations
A free 15-hour course with optional instructor support. Covers pedagogy, classroom use, and practical integration.
Best for: Teachers becoming AI champions at their school.
🔗 AI for Educators (Microsoft)
Guides for using AI within Microsoft tools like Word, Teams, and PowerPoint. Not flashy — just helpful.
Best for: Microsoft-using schools or staff.
🔗 AI Education Project (aiEDU)
Research-based curriculum, great for building student AI literacy across subjects.
Best for: Teachers developing long-term digital skill-building.
👣 What to Do Next
Pick one. Just one.
Set aside 30 minutes this week to explore it and see what sparks. Then come back and share what you tried.
Also, if you know of any other free, useful AI learning resources, let everyone know in the comments!
If you liked this article, you’ll love my books:
📝 Lesson Planning for Language Teachers - Plan better, faster, and stress-free.
👩🎓 Essential Classroom Management - Develop calm students and a classroom full of learning.
🏰 Storytelling for Language Teachers - Use the power of storytelling to transform your lessons.
🤖 ChatGPT for Language Teachers - A collection of AI prompts and techniques to work better, faster.
💭 Reflective Teaching Practice Journal - Improve your teaching in five minutes daily.