Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept, it is a present reality shaping industries, education, and everyday life. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our world, teaching AI literacy is essential for preparing students to thrive in a technology-driven society.
Without AI literacy, students risk becoming passive consumers of technology rather than active, informed participants. Teaching these skills early fosters adaptability, critical thinking, and responsible citizenship in a digital world. As Sam Barnhart, a Washington State teacher at Jason Lee Middle School, explained it “I know that it’s in the future. I know it’s going to be embedded in everything moving forward”.
So, he and other educators around the world are looking for ways to teach AI Literacy to their students. Colleen Britt, an educator at Edgemont Junior High in Washington State, says “I feel like students need to understand how it works, that it’s not just magic, and how to use it appropriately. I know that employers are looking for those skills.”
But how do we break down these essential skills into engaging concepts that will be easy for educators to teach, even when they don’t have all the AI knowledge. That is what attracted Sam, Colleen, and other educators to the AI Ready Skills crede
AI Ready Skills is the latest learning, assessment, and credentialing product from the partnership between Prodigy Learning and Minecraft Education which develops and proves students’ skills in the evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. The program engages young learners through game-based learning in a highly engaging curriculum and rewards their learning with credentials.
Educator Brenda Valdez, at Ballou Junior High in Washington State, has begun using AI Ready Skills to provide her students with AI literacy. She said, “I wanted something that’s engaging for the students, and Minecraft is engaging for the students. That’s what grabbed my attention.”
She understands the importance of teaching these skills, having heard her students talking about AI, “There are some kids that are like, it’s bad. Then there are some kids that just think, oh, it’s cheating. I think we need to have that component [AI Literacy] so that they’re learning how to use it correctly and be able to use it for jobs in the future”.
Delivered in Minecraft Education, the game-based learning platform licensed through Microsoft 365, AI Ready Skills engages learners through immersive lessons and rewards their learning with credentials. It is an easy-to-teach solution, empowering educators with a comprehensive, future-focused curriculum that addresses the needs of tomorrow’s workforce, today.
The AI Ready Skills learning pathway is comprised of four units, which cover core AI topics including Understanding AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Practicing Responsible AI. At the end of the pathway, the AI Ready Skills capstone credential exam provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate foundational AI skills. If successful, students receive their AI Ready Skills certificate and digital badge.
Many educators feel unprepared to teach AI but AI Ready Skills addresses this by providing comprehensive instructor resources and professional development opportunities. AI Ready Skills allows educators to learn and grow in their AI knowledge alongside their students. Sam noted, “That’s one of the things I love about being a teacher. I see the things that I think the kids need to know, and to teach them, I have to learn them.”
In Washington State, the AI Ready Skills credential program is provided to K-12 schools through a public-private partnership between Microsoft, Prodigy Learning and OSPI. Included is free professional development. This goes above and beyond the needs of teachers in Washington State and has given them the mindset that they can implement the lessons easily in their classrooms.
To get started, Washington State educators need to visit www.aireadyskills.com/wa and fill out the form on the website. They will receive free teacher accounts, resources to get started and information on the optional professional development.
Join Prodigy Learning at the NCCE Conference in Seattle in February to learn more!
If you are not from Washington State and would like to receive a demo lesson and further information, visit www.aireadyskills.com and complete the form for ‘More Info’.