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Teaching and Learning to Build AI Fluency

Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning

Overview

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly being integrated into the fabric of academic discourse. Developing AI fluency is essential for advancing teaching and learning capabilities (Kassorla, Georgieva, & Papini, 2024). Ethical and effective use of AI technologies is emerging as an essential skill that students must develop to live, learn, and work (Love, Niu, & Labay-Marquez, 2025). In addition to knowing how AI technologies work, students will need to be able to critique the accuracy of AI outputs, apply frameworks for ethical use, and understand how AI is used in their future academic work or careers (UNESCO, 2024). 

The Teaching and Learning to Build AI Fluency endorsement provides a foundation for understanding how AI works, the impact of AI on teaching and learning, how to use AI ethically in university courses and programs, and how to identify ongoing sources of information about the evolution of AI in higher education. Participants will have an opportunity to apply what they are learning to design and communicate about assignments, assessments, and activities related to building AI fluency.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain foundational concepts related to AI.
  • Define AI fluency.
  • Describe Ohio State's AI Fluency initiative.
  • Construct course policies related to AI use.
  • Identify ways to support AI fluency within a course.
  • Identify avenues for further learning. 

Steps to Earn this Teaching Endorsement:

 

STEP 1: Complete all Core and Elective Programming Requirements

Requirement

Experiences

Workshops are offered on a rotating basis. Check our Workshops and Events page to see what's offered each semester.

CORE

Choose one pathway

  • Pathway: Complete asynchronous online course
  • Pathway: Complete both Synchronous workshops
    • Supporting Student Development of AI Fluency
    • Teaching to Develop AI Fluency at Ohio State
ELECTIVES

Choose one pathway

  • Pathway: Annual Drake Institute AI Book Club
  • Pathway: AI-Infused Course Design Institute
  • Pathway: Complete three AI elective workshops from the following list
    • Designing Assignments for Teaching about and with Generative AI
    • Developing Syllabus Statements and Course Policies in Light of GenAI
    • Information Literacy and AI
    • Steering into GenAI and SoTL/DBER
    • Teaching AI Fluency with Authenticity and Vulnerability
    • Teaching AI Fluency with Authenticity and Vulnerability: Engaging with AI Tools
    • Using GenAI: Hands-on Practical Uses for Educators
    • Writing to Learn with GenAI
    • Your Choice (available to use for 1 of the 3 required elective workshops)
      • Complete a professional learning experience about teaching with AI in a specific field of study or instructional context (e.g., workshop or training offered by your academic unit, a professional organization, online training). Participants must provide details of the experience on the AI Choice Elective form to receive credit.

 

STEP 2: Submit Your Deliverables

  • Following completion of core and elective programming requirements, upload your teaching endorsement deliverables using the submission form.
    • Submit three separate documents (each formatted as a Microsoft Word file) that include examples of use of AI in teaching and a reflection:
      1. AI syllabus statement and student communication plan
      2. An assignment, project, or lesson plan for a learning activity that fosters students’ AI fluency
      3. A reflection on strategies for staying up-to-date with
        1. general and discipline-specific tools and uses of AI, and
        2. implications for teaching in light of AI

 

STEP 3: Receive Your Verification Form

  • Upon completion of all core and elective requirements and submission of all three deliverables, you will receive a verification form via email within one week. This verification form will be a Microsoft Word document that you will use for STEP 4.  

 

STEP 4: Submit Your Teaching Endorsement Application

  • Submit your Teaching Endorsement Application
    • You will be prompted to upload the verification form you received via email (see STEP 3)
    • Additionally, you will be asked to answer one reflection question and two core competency-based essay questions. You may view the essay questions and response criteria.  Your application will be reviewed by Drake Institute staff.
    • If your application is approved, you will be sent a digital award letter from the Drake Institute and will be awarded a Teaching Endorsement certificate in Buckeye Learn.  Please take note of the upcoming application submission deadlines and award letter dates.
      • Summer 2025
        • August 8, 2025: Teaching Endorsement Applications Submission Deadline
        • September 12, 2025: Digital Award Letters Sent
      • Autumn 2025
        • January 2, 2026: Teaching Endorsement Applications Submission Deadline
        • January 23, 2026: Digital Award Letters Sent
      • Spring 2026
        • May 8, 2026:  Teaching Endorsement Applications Submission Deadline
        • June 12, 2026:  Digital Award Letters Sent
      • Summer 2026
        • August 7, 2026: Teaching Endorsement Applications Submission Deadline
        • September 11, 2026: Digital Award Letters Sent

 

STEP 5: Receive Your Incentive

  • Faculty and Staff Incentive:
    • Faculty and staff who earn this endorsement between December 2025 and August 2027 will be eligible to receive a $300 professional development incentive.
    • These funds will be distributed through your academic unit after your teaching endorsement has been awarded.
    • Once you have earned this teaching endorsement, any questions about accessing professional development incentive funds should be directed to your unit's fiscal office.
  • Graduate Student Incentive:
    • If you are an Ohio State graduate student, you will be eligible to receive a milestone on your academic transcript recognizing this achievement.
    • This milestone will serve as an official record of your professional development in AI fluency and teaching innovation.
    • In order for you to earn a milestone on your transcript, you must apply for this teaching endorsement at least one term before you graduate.
  • You may use these guidelines as suggested ways to record your achievement.

Interest Form

Complete an optional contact form.

Teaching Endorsement Application

Submit your final application after completing all criteria.