The Generative AI for Beginners course provides an accessible introduction to artificial intelligence and its practical applications in today's rapidly evolving digital workplace. Students explore how Generative AI models work, their capabilities and limitations, and ways to use these tools effectively for everyday tasks. The course emphasizes prompt engineering, teaching learners to develop clear, structured prompts that produce accurate, relevant, and useful responses. Students gain experience creating and refining written content, professional documents, images, and multimedia while maintaining originality and quality. Instruction also addresses responsible AI practices, including recognizing bias, protecting sensitive information, respecting intellectual property, and applying human oversight to AI-generated work. Learners examine techniques for improving results through iterative feedback, customization, and strategies that reduce inaccurate or fabricated information, commonly called hallucinations. Practical exercises demonstrate how Generative AI can support communication, research, content development, problem-solving, and workflow efficiency. By the end of the course, students will have foundational knowledge and practical skills to evaluate AI outputs, use Generative AI tools responsibly, and enhance productivity across a variety of personal, academic, and professional settings.
Introduction
Mapping the Lay of the Generative AI Land
Introducing the Art of Prompt Engineering
Collaborating Creatively with GenAI
Navigating the Evolving Landscape of GenAI
Applying GenAI in Practical Scenarios
Manipulating the GenAI Model to Milk It for More or Better Content
Producing Long-Form Content
Customizing Content for Niche Topics
Creating Short-Form Content
Luring Images, Music, and Video Out of GenAI
Speeding, Improving, and Checking Your and GenAI's Work
Leaning on Advanced Tactics to Move Your Content to Another Level
Delving into Specialized GenAI Tools
Enhancing Creativity and Productivity with GenAI
Upholding Responsible AI Standards in GenAI Use
Unveiling the Human Element in GenAI
Ten Ways GenAI Can Boost Your Creativity
Ten Tips for Advanced Prompting
Practical Learning Components
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Explain Generative AI fundamentals, including common models, applications, capabilities, and limitations.
Develop effective prompts to generate accurate, relevant, and high-quality AI responses.
Create AI-generated content, including written documents, images, and multimedia, while maintaining originality.
Apply responsible AI practices addressing ethics, bias, data privacy, intellectual property, and human oversight.
Optimize AI-generated outputs using feedback, prompt refinement, customization, and hallucination-reduction techniques.
Integrate Generative AI into professional workflows to improve productivity, efficiency, and content quality.
This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.