3 Resources for Learning About AI

AI for Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers and Adults

AI is the hot topic right now. No matter how you feel about it, it is not going anywhere. And it’s no longer just about using ChatGPT to write essays. AI is anticipated to be a major change agent in the coming years – in all aspects of our lives. If you’d like to hear more about this I recommend listening to Stark Raving Dad’s recent podcast, “What Every Parent Must Know About the AI Generation”. While I found Issy’s take to be slightly alarmist, I agree with him that more people need to be aware of the reality of what is taking place and should be considering how it will impact our kids.

If you need a quick primer on what AI tools are out there and how they are being used in daily life here is Axios’ AI Survival Kit. I also really like this 6 Things to Know About AI fact sheet from the News Literacy Project.

Given that AI is not going away, we need to find ways to introduce it to our children and prepare them for the future that is coming. AI is changing rapidly and new resources are being introduced daily to cover this topic but as of right now, I recommend three resources that are solid foundations in AI for middle and high school children (great for adults as well).

1. FundaFunda Academy Intro to AI (self-paced) and Artificial Intelligence for Teens

FundaFunda Academy has created two courses centered around AI. The first, Intro to AI, is a self-paced unit study. You can customize the pacing of the course and do one module a week for 4 weeks, or spread it longer, or condense it into a week or two.

I have reviewed the 4 modules that are included and it is a comprehensive look at the history of AI, the complications of ethics surrounding AI, current technology and how it works, and lots of hands-on practice with large language models and specialized tools such as Canva, Notebook LM, AI Duet, and Suno, and ending with the future of AI. For $20, it’s a solid program and should appeal to many kids with its use of videos, interactive websites, games, and hands-on learning.

The second, Artificial Intelligence for Teens, explores everything in Intro to AI, and goes further. This option is an asynchronous, graded full-semester or students who would like more structure, guided interaction, feedback and grades.. Students will learn how AI systems work, discuss the ethics of AI, and complete hands-on exploration and assignments over the course of 16 weeks. At $159, as of this writing, the pricing is very reasonable for a graded course.

2. Udemy: Generative AI and Prompt Engineering for Absolute Beginners by Logix Academy

Udemy is an online learning platform that is fantastic for learning new skills. I have mainly used it for technology skills but there are also courses in design, arts and crafts, cooking, travel, gaming, photography, and much more. Individual courses are priced differently, but there are often sales and many libraries (including many in Rhode Island) offer access for free through their digital resources.

This course, Generative AI and Prompt Engineering for Absolute Beginners ($19.99), is created for adult learners but is easily accessible for middle and high schoolers. I found the explanation of how AI works to be insightful and easy to comprehend - giving the learner a good foundation in the basics of AI technology. It moves on to hands-on exploration of various AI tools – from large language models, like ChatGPT, to specialized tools for graph, image and video creation, prompt libraries, and tools for detecting originality in work. (A note here: there are also short demos of the tool such as quillbot and writehuman.ai which assist users in turning AI generated text into text which appears original and human-written. The instructor does discuss that these tools have weaknesses and do not create high quality work. I personally think it’s important for my kids to know which tools are out there – and that I know about them – and to think critically about how and when to use them, but if you have a different perspective you may want to skip the course section on “Ensuring Originality in AI-Generated Content” or use a different resource altogether.)

There is also lots of instruction in prompt engineering with strong examples and a framework that explains exactly what you need to consider when prompting and why (a key skill to use AI optimally).

Time-wise this course is short, at a total of 5 hours of videos but a lot of information is crammed in and if your student does the hands-on work, it will stretch longer.

3. Code.org Artificial Intelligence Foundations

Code.org is a nonprofit focused on Computer Science education that provides free technology learning and curriculum for K-12 students. They are the group behind the Hour of Code initiative and now they are taking on AI by transitioning to Hour of AI. While that initiative is not completely up and running yet, there are several short lessons that introduce kids to AI through creating music and even Minecraft.

For those that want a full AI curriculum, code.org has developed Artificial Intelligence Foundations, a free full semester course that goes deep into AI, programming, systems, ethics, and insights. This course would be a good fit for a STEM focused student with a strong interest in AI and the latest technology. It is the most in-depth of the three presented here and the most technical.

Because they provide curriculum to all K-12 students, this curriculum is the most traditional looking of the three. The website has resources for teachers and students and to access the teacher materials you must register (see below). Once registered you will have access to the syllabi and all resources and will be able to assign modules and lessons to your student. Because of the depth of this course I have not completed it myself, but I have reviewed the modules and some of the course materials and found it to be high quality.

Code.org is free for all educators, including homeschoolers. Unfortunately, their registration process for educators is a little cumbersome for homeschoolers - they require verification that you are an educator through a 3rd party email confirmation. For traditional educators, this would be the school admin, department head, etc. For myself, I provided the email of a friend/ co-volunteer at ENRICHri and that was accepted without issue. Code.org sends a quick email asking if you are an educator and your recommender just has to verify. It’s simple, but not very inclusive for homeschoolers (I did send them that feedback).

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Learning Through Travel: Why Homeschool Families Will Love The Capitol Collection

By Melissa Robb • February 12, 2026

Some of the best learning my family has done didn’t happen sitting at the kitchen table. It happened walking through old buildings, asking questions, and seeing things with our own eyes. State capitol buildings are among our favorite stops, we learn so much about a state by visiting these unique and beautiful buildings. If your family likes to travel—or even just take day trips— The Capitol Collection is a wonderful way to turn those outings into something meaningful and memorable. It is a souvenir passbook ($15) that helps families keep track of visits to state capitol buildings. Each visit becomes more than just a stop along the way—it becomes part of your family’s story. Turning Trips Into Adventures Kids love having a purpose, and visiting capitols gives them one. Instead of just passing through a city, they’re exploring, noticing details, and looking forward to marking another visit in their book. Over time, those pages fill up with memories, and the learning happens naturally along the way. It doesn’t feel like “doing school”—it just feels like life. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about homeschooling. Learning doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Our Family’s Story This means a lot to me because of our own experience. Our family has visited 22 state capitols so far. Our first recorded visit was Pierre, South Dakota in 2009 when my son was 10 years old , and at first it was just something fun to do while we traveled. I never imagined how much it would shape him. One of my favorite memories is a tradition he started. Whenever a capitol had a rotunda, he would lie down on the floor and just look up at the dome. He would study the paintings, the shapes, the light—just taking it all in and thinking what that epic element represented. Those quiet moments often turned into some of our best conversations later. At the Oregon state house we were even able to go up INTO the dome, what a climb! Over the years, those visits led to many talks about history, government, and how laws are made. The experience stayed with him so strongly that he even wrote about it in his law school application essay . Visiting state capitols has expanded to exploring government building internationally such as the Reichstag in Germany and Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa. As a parent, it’s an amazing thing to see something that started as a simple family outing become part of your child’s future. Most recently, we visited Maryland’s capitol during a trip to Annapolis. My son is a young man now and living on his own, but when we travel together, this is still something we do. That’s what makes experiences like this so special—they grow with your children. Why Capitol Buildings Are Such Powerful Learning Spaces State capitol buildings offer a unique blend of subjects all in one place: Civics and government come to life when children see legislative chambers and learn how decisions are made. Local history becomes tangible through exhibits, memorials, and stories tied to each state. Art and architecture surround you, often reflecting the values and culture of the region. Critical thinking and curiosity grow naturally as kids ask questions and make connections. Best of all, these lessons don’t feel forced. They happen through exploration and conversation—often led by the child’s own interests. A Journey Worth Remembering Looking back, I’m so thankful we took the time to stop, explore, and learn together. Those capitol visits weren’t just educational—they were time spent together, sharing discoveries and building memories we still talk about years later. Whether your family visits one capitol or dreams of all fifty, the important part isn’t the number. It’s the time spent learning side by side. (There is a Facebook group for this hobby. It’s small but would be a great way for families to share their experiences!)