Critical AI in Education Pathways is an initiative at Iowa State University that advances ethical, pedagogically grounded, and human-centered approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) across K–12 education, teacher preparation, higher education, and professional learning contexts.
The initiative brings together curriculum development, professional learning implementation, and research on AI in education (AIED) to support educators and institutions in making informed, context-sensitive decisions about AI integration. Rather than promoting AI adoption for its own sake, Critical AI in Education Pathways emphasizes critical inquiry, educator agency, and responsible use.
Critical AI in Education Pathways Microcredential
The Critical AI in Education Pathways Microcredential was designed and created through the Critical AI in Education Pathways initiative and is offered in partnership with the School of Education, the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), and Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University. It is intended to support both K–12 educators and higher education instructors.
The Critical AI in Education Pathways micro-credential is a self-paced, fully online program designed for educators who want to build critical AI literacy for teaching and learning. The program consists of five interactive modules that help educators understand, question, and thoughtfully integrate AI in educational settings.
Through scenario-based challenges, real classroom examples, and guided reflection, participants examine how AI systems shape learning, assessment, and decision-making in schools. The program emphasizes ethical reasoning, pedagogical judgment, data awareness, and human-centered AI practices, moving beyond tool use toward informed professional decision-making.
Educators who successfully complete all five modules earn the Critical AI in Education Pathways digital badge, demonstrating their ability to evaluate AI tools, recognize opportunities and risks, and make responsible, context-sensitive choices about AI use in education. The competencies developed in this program align with emerging AI literacy and educator competency frameworks and are directly applicable to K–12 and higher education contexts.
The course will launch on March 15, 2026.
For additional information, please contact Project Director Evrim Baran