The AFT, or American Federation of Teachers, is the second largest teachers union in the United States. It doubled down on that vision when it recently announced an ambitious collaborative partnership with technology giants Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic. This effort aims to create a nationwide, standardized, strong training program. It will equip educators with the knowledge and tools to adopt AI into their classrooms in a way that best supports student outcomes. The announcement came during a press conference that was held in New York City by the Alliance.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the AFT, emphasized the pressing challenges that educators face in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape. Lastly, she explained how important it is that teachers are equipped to use AI tools responsibly. Equally important, they need to do so with wisdom, ethics and safety as top priorities. The partnership addresses these lack of opportunities head on. It empowers educators – through active AI literacy training – to better understand and master emerging AI technologies.
A Focus on Practical Training
This partnership between the AFT and these emerging tech titans isn’t to create new AI chatbots and interfaces. Rather, it’s about helping teachers understand the AI tools that currently exist on the market. The new training program will be five years long. It will get educators familiar with the tools and platforms that will help them revolutionize their teaching strategies.
By focusing on tools that are already available, the project seeks to arm teachers with knowledge without inundating them with news of new innovations. Weingarten stated that “teachers need practical knowledge and support to utilize AI effectively.” This method gives educators the tools they need to effectively incorporate AI into their classrooms. In so doing, they improve student learning and maintain the integrity of their work.
Addressing Ethical Concerns
AI technologies, learning, gen AI, are evolving incredibly fast. As such, ethical considerations are increasingly central to conversations about their use in educational contexts. The AFT’s partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic is an indication of our commitment to responsibly traversing these challenges. AI is here to stay, but educators are the key to determining how AI is used in schools today and moving forward, Weingarten acknowledged.
Gerry Petrella, Microsoft’s general manager for US public policy, was in agreement on that front in the announcement. He emphasized the need to equip educators with tools and data by providing training. This method creates a culture of responsible AI innovation for positive impact. The training program will develop materials, based on experiences and best practices, that equip educators to critically evaluate AI tools and their effects in the classroom.
A Commitment to Educators
The inclusion of WeTeach_CS in this partnership highlights a bigger picture commitment to helping teachers navigate and integrate new technologies. The AFT recognizes that education is experiencing a seismic shift due to the emergence of AI. It’s clear that they are dedicated to helping educators get out in front and not fall behind. Through trusted partnerships with industry leaders, the AFT aims to offer a set of guides, tools and frameworks for teachers to explore AI with confidence.
This initiative couldn’t come at a better time, as schools nationwide are embracing technology more and more. The AFT has a forward-looking approach to regulating AI in the classroom. This bold strategy can serve as a model to other higher educational institutions as they deal with these realities.
