The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) is adding three no-cost, online and self-paced artificial intelligence courses beginning in September 2026. The new options expand MAIN’s current learning catalog for educators, organizational leaders, technology professionals and other Mississippi learners.
MAIN is Mississippi’s statewide AI initiative, anchored at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). The courses were created by outside providers and are delivered through Coursera; MAIN did not author them. Through the MAIN/MGCCC access pathway, successful completion of each course earns the applicable micro-credential. Eligible K–12 educators may also earn the course-specific continuing education units (CEUs) listed below after completing the full course.
AI-Powered K-12 Teaching and Learning
AI-Powered K-12 Teaching and Learning, offered by Arizona State University through Coursera, is a beginner-level course designed for K–12 educators. Coursera lists nine modules and an estimated commitment of about 10 hours, which learners can complete on a flexible schedule.
The course introduces generative AI concepts and responsible-use considerations before moving into classroom practice. Participants examine ways to evaluate AI output, support differentiated instruction, plan lessons, develop assessments and feedback, and communicate with parents and caregivers about AI. The course concludes with an AI integration plan that brings those elements together for a teaching context.
K–12 educator credit: 1.0 CEU for eligible educators after successful completion of the full course.
Generative AI Cybersecurity & Privacy for Leaders: A Primer
Generative AI Cybersecurity & Privacy for Leaders: A Primer, offered by Vanderbilt University through Coursera, is a beginner-level, five-module course with an approximate four-hour commitment.
The course examines privacy and security risks that can emerge when organizations adopt generative AI. Topics include sensitive-data exposure, prompt injection, adversarial text and images, deepfakes, personalized phishing, information access controls and responsible adoption practices. It may be useful for organizational leaders, IT professionals, public-sector personnel and others responsible for privacy, cybersecurity, governance or the responsible use of AI.
K–12 educator credit: 0.5 CEUs for eligible educators after successful completion of the full course.
Generative AI for Everyone
Generative AI for Everyone, offered by DeepLearning.AI through Coursera and taught by Andrew Ng, is a beginner-level course that does not require prior AI or coding experience. Coursera lists three modules and approximately six hours of work, with a suggested pace of one to two hours per week for three weeks.
Participants learn what generative AI can and cannot do, practice basic prompting and review the lifecycle of a generative AI project from an initial idea through launch. The course also introduces more advanced concepts at a high level, including retrieval-augmented generation, model selection and fine-tuning, before considering how generative AI may affect work, business and society. It is intended as a broad foundation for people who want a practical understanding of the technology and its limitations.
K–12 educator credit: 0.5 CEUs for eligible educators after successful completion of the full course.
How credentials and educator CEUs work
Coursera describes its completion credential as a shareable electronic course certificate. That certificate is separate from the MAIN/MGCCC micro-credential and from any CEUs administered through the MAIN/MGCCC pathway.
Other eligible learners may take the courses and earn the applicable MAIN/MGCCC micro-credential, but the listed CEUs are available only to eligible K–12 educators. For these three courses, CEUs require successful completion of the full course and are not awarded module by module.
Request access through MAIN
Use MAIN’s two-step access process rather than enrolling independently through Coursera’s public enrollment buttons:
- Visit the MAIN courses page and follow the MGCCC enrollment instructions to create the required MGCCC account.
- After the account has been created, email MAIN@mgccc.edu to request Coursera access.
The courses page includes the full current catalog, course-specific credential and K–12 educator CEU information, and the access actions for each offering. Explore all no-cost MAIN courses and begin the enrollment process.