Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education, PDE approved Endorsement

Take the Lead in the AI Era

The goal of this program isn't just to teach you how to use a chatbot—it’s to empower you to lead your district through the most significant technological shift of our generation.

This program goes beyond personal proficiency. We have specifically designed this four-course sequence to empower you as a strategic leader. You won't just learn how to use AI; you will gain the expertise to:

• Design and Implement Training: Build comprehensive professional development programs tailored to your school or district’s specific needs.
• Lead Your Peers: Serve as the primary resource for colleagues as they navigate the transition to AI-integrated pedagogy.
• Help Shape District Policy: Advise administrators on the ethical implementation, data privacy standards, and long-term AI strategy for your educational community.

Why AI Leadership Matters Now

Educators must be prepared to contend with both the harms and benefits of AI. By completing this program, you become the expert who ensures:

• Algorithmic Fairness: Guiding your district in evaluating tools for bias and transparency.
• Equity and Inclusion: Addressing disparities in access so every student is prepared for an AI-shaped workforce.
• Intentional Design: Helping fellow teachers use AI to create more engaging, impactful, and human-centered learning environments.

Designed for the Working Educator

We understand that teachers and administrators are busier than ever. Our program is built for maximum flexibility:

• 100% Online & Asynchronous: Complete your coursework on your schedule.
• Four-Course Sequence: A streamlined path that can be taken as a stand-alone program, or as electives for an M.Ed.
• Practical Field Experience: Apply your learning directly within your current PK-12 setting.

Note: To officially earn the PA Endorsement on your certificate, you must hold a valid PA Instructional I, Instructional II, or Administrator certificate and have access to a PK-12 school to complete field requirements.

Required Courses

EDUC 630: Foundations and Ethics of AI in Education
This introductory course establishes a comprehensive baseline for AI literacy within the K-12 and higher education landscapes. Students explore the evolution of artificial intelligence—from early symbolic systems to modern Generative AI—and investigate the core technologies powering today’s tools, such as Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to the Ethical Frameworks of AI, focusing on data privacy laws (FERPA/COPPA), mitigating algorithmic bias, and ensuring educational equity. Educators will learn to distinguish between "Red, Yellow, and Green" light tools and develop a "Human-in-the-Loop" philosophy for classroom integration.

EDUC 631: AI-Driven Instructional Design & Assessment
This course focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into lesson planning and curriculum development to create inclusive and personalized learning environments. Students will explore multimodal AI tools to support multilingual and neurodiverse learners while applying evidence-based practices for AI-driven feedback. The curriculum covers the interpretation of AI learning analytics to refine instruction, identify learning gaps, and adapt teaching practices based on emerging trends. Key topics include the connection between AI and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), curriculum augmentation, and large-scale differentiation. Through hands-on projects, students will design AI-enhanced unit plans, develop multimodal content libraries, and use data-informed analytics to adjust instructional pacing.

EDUC 632: Fostering Student AI Literacy and Creativity
This course explores the development of AI literacy curricula designed to prepare students for workforce readiness and ethical engagement with emerging technologies. Participants will learn to create learning experiences that encourage critical questioning of AI-generated media, research, and synthetic content. The curriculum emphasizes strategies for navigating bias and misinformation, using methods such as the "SIFT" framework to verify claims. Students will investigate the balance between AI augmentation and human agency. Key topics include algorithmic justice, advanced prompt engineering, and the transformation of career pathways in an AI-driven economy.

EDUC 633: Strategic Leadership and Global Impact of AI
This course prepares educational leaders to strategically manage the implementation of artificial intelligence within complex organizational systems. Students will develop expertise in district-wide AI governance, professional learning design, and policy development while addressing the ethical and social-emotional challenges of automation.  The curriculum explores the global impact of AI on labor markets, public policy, and human cognition, emphasizing a "Human-in-the-Loop" leadership model.  Included is a capstone field experience where students synthesize and apply program instruction within the real-world context of a PK-12 school.