Coursera, OpenAI launch ChatGPT Course For K-12 teachers

Coursera has announced a new partnership with OpenAI to introduce ChatGPT Fundamentals for Educators, a course aimed at helping primary and secondary school teachers develop practical skills to use artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

The initiative comes as AI tools gain traction in education. Coursera data shows that three out of five teachers already use some form of AI, often to save time, tailor instruction and provide more targeted support to students. Despite this uptake, many educators still lack structured training on how to use these technologies confidently and responsibly in the classroom.

Greg Hart, CEO, Coursera, said educators remain central to the company’s mission as digital tools reshape how people learn and work. He said that when teachers feel confident using AI, they can extend their impact in the classroom while helping students build digital skills that will be increasingly relevant in the coming years.

ChatGPT Fundamentals for Educators is designed as an accessible, practice-oriented introduction to the use of ChatGPT in everyday teaching. The course explains how the tool works, how it can be adapted to individual teaching styles and how it can be applied to both instructional and administrative tasks. It also addresses responsible use, with guidance on ethical considerations, age-appropriate integration and safe classroom adoption.

The program positions AI as a support tool rather than a replacement for educators, with an emphasis on freeing up time, encouraging creativity and strengthening student engagement. By focusing on real classroom scenarios, the course aims to bridge the gap between experimentation with AI tools and their effective use in formal education settings.

Beyond education, Coursera and OpenAI are also collaborating to expand access to practical AI skills across the workforce. As part of this effort, OpenAI has introduced AI Fundamentals, a course designed for workers in multiple industries to build core, job-relevant AI capabilities. Through early pilots with employers, universities and public-sector partners, the course allows learners to practice real tasks directly in ChatGPT and demonstrate applied AI skills relevant to employment.

Coursera will support this initiative by embedding its learning design and assessment expertise into the OpenAI Certified application within ChatGPT. The platform will help ensure that courses and certifications meet standards for instructional design, psychometric rigor and real-world impact, while offering learners an integrated environment that connects training directly with AI tools.

Together, AI Fundamentals and ChatGPT Fundamentals for Educators are intended to provide multiple entry points for students, workers and teachers to develop AI literacy. As AI continues to influence education and employment, the partnership reflects a broader effort to align training with the skills required in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The integration of AI in Mexican classrooms is advancing rapidly, with students regularly using AI tools in their academic routines. A recent global study by Turnitin, a firm specializing in AI detection technology, reveals most Mexican respondents remain optimistic about AI’s positive impact on education, although there are ongoing concerns regarding overreliance and lack of clear guidelines.

“Teachers are moving from simply using AI tools to understanding how to balance AI integration with the reinforcement of critical human skills,” said Belén Correa, Latin American Director, Turnitin, for Expansión. Correa emphasized that this balance is necessary to ensure students develop technological fluency without sacrificing critical thinking or creativity.

Turnitin’s study highlights significant uncertainty among teachers regarding the appropriate extent of AI use. While 85% of respondents in Mexico feel optimistic about the positive impact AI is having on education, concerns remain about overreliance. Approximately 64% of students worry about becoming too dependent on AI, and half of Mexican students admit they are unsure how to maximize AI’s benefits for their learning.

The broader context sees AI reshaping education globally, reports WEF in Shaping the Future of Learning: The Role of AI in Education 4. Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and DALL·E are becoming common tools for students, enabling tasks such as essay writing and problem solving. In the UK, for example, usage of generative AI tools by primary and secondary teachers jumped from 17% in April 2023 to 42% by November 2023, reflecting rapid adoption in classrooms and among students alike.