AI

Courses

Learn AI skills through one clear work-ready path.

AI For Work Lab teaches non-technical learners how to use AI tools for real tasks: writing, research, study, marketing, admin, business systems, and simple automation.

Start here

Follow the path in order, then choose a workplace track.

The course is intentionally simple: learn the basics, control better outputs, apply AI to real work, then prove the skill with a portfolio capstone.

View syllabusSee class formats

Learning path

13 stages from beginner basics to a portfolio capstone

Tool coverage

ChatGPT-style assistants, Gemini, Copilot, research, design, video, data, automation, and personal AI

Portfolio evidence

Reusable prompts, work samples, checklists, quizzes, and one capstone workflow

Learning path

13 stages, built for practical workplace use.

1Stage 1 - BeginnerAI Basics for BeginnersUse AI safely for everyday tasks, understand limitations, and know when human review is required.Open

Lessons

  • What AI tools can and cannot do
  • Pick the right tool for the output
  • Goal, context, input, format, tone
  • Review AI output before using it
  • Build your first personal AI rulebook

Practice output

Project: Create a personal AI use policy and a first reusable prompt checklist.

Quiz: Complete 5 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Saved AI safety checklist., Tool-choice worksheet., Three improved prompts saved., Completed review checklist.

2Stage 2 - PracticalPrompt Writing and Output ReviewTurn rough requests into structured prompts and repair weak AI answers through iteration.Open

Lessons

  • The six-part work prompt
  • Make AI ask before answering
  • Repair bad answers
  • Fact-check and source-check
  • Tone and audience control
  • Turn prompts into reusable templates

Practice output

Project: Build a personal prompt library for email, research, reports, planning, and content.

Quiz: Complete 6 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Reusable six-part prompt template., Clarification prompt template., Before/after output comparison., Fact-check notes.

3Stage 3 - PracticalChatGPT and AI Assistant MasteryRun useful AI conversations, organize projects, compare answers, use files safely, and turn one-off chats into repeatable work systems.Open

Lessons

  • Set up a useful AI conversation
  • Use projects, memory, and files safely
  • Compare multiple AI answers
  • Deep research without blind trust
  • Build reusable custom instructions
  • Create a repeatable assistant workflow

Practice output

Project: Build a personal AI assistant workspace with prompt templates, project rules, file-use rules, and review checklist.

Quiz: Complete 6 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Assistant setup prompt., Project safety rules., Model comparison worksheet., Research verification checklist.

4Stage 4 - PracticalGemini and Google Workspace AIUse Gemini-style tools for email, documents, research notes, spreadsheets, presentations, and meeting follow-up with privacy checks.Open

Lessons

  • Gmail and Docs drafting
  • Sheets and data questions
  • Slides, Drive, Meet, and NotebookLM
  • NotebookLM source-grounded study and research
  • Gmail inbox triage and calendar planning
  • Google Workspace capstone

Practice output

Project: Create a Google Workspace productivity kit: email drafts, document outline, spreadsheet helper prompt, slide plan, and meeting summary workflow.

Quiz: Complete 6 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Gmail and Docs prompt pack., Sheets helper checklist., Workspace workflow map., NotebookLM-style source workflow.

5Stage 5 - PracticalMicrosoft Copilot for Office WorkUse Copilot-style workflows for documents, email, spreadsheets, presentations, meetings, and internal knowledge with permission awareness.Open

Lessons

  • Outlook, Word, and Teams
  • Excel and PowerPoint
  • Copilot safety at work
  • Word document rewrite and review
  • Teams meeting follow-up system
  • SharePoint and permission-aware knowledge use

Practice output

Project: Build a Microsoft 365 AI workflow kit for email, meeting recap, Excel analysis, Word rewrite, and PowerPoint outline.

Quiz: Complete 6 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Meeting and email workflow., Excel-to-slide workflow., Workplace AI policy checklist., Word rewrite workflow.

6Stage 6 - PracticalAI for Office, Research, and StudyUse AI to draft, summarize, compare, plan, and study while keeping human review in the loop.Open

Lessons

  • Emails and replies
  • Meetings and notes
  • Reports and comparison tables
  • Beginner learning plan
  • Research with verification
  • PDF and document summary workflow
  • Study tutor with adaptive practice

Practice output

Project: Create an AI-assisted weekly work or study system with templates.

Quiz: Complete 7 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Email prompt pack., Meeting-note workflow., Decision report template., Personal learning roadmap.

7Stage 7 - Advanced beginnerAI for Spreadsheets, Data, and AnalysisUse AI to clean data, explain formulas, create summaries, build charts, and check analysis without trusting unverified numbers.Open

Lessons

  • Formula and table support
  • Data cleanup and summary
  • Charts and insight review
  • Pivot tables and dashboard planning
  • CSV cleanup and column dictionary
  • Analysis review and decision memo

Practice output

Project: Create a small data report with cleaned table, formulas, chart recommendation, insight summary, and verification notes.

Quiz: Complete 6 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Formula prompt pack., Data cleanup checklist., Data report template., Dashboard planning worksheet.

8Stage 8 - Advanced beginnerAI Content, Design, and Marketing WorkflowsPlan, write, design, and review content with safe claims and a repeatable brand workflow.Open

Lessons

  • Audience, problem, offer, proof
  • Before/after educational posts
  • Image briefs for AI and Canva
  • Short video scripts
  • Claim and compliance review
  • Landing page and offer messaging
  • Campaign calendar and performance review

Practice output

Project: Build a 7-day content campaign with captions, image briefs, short-video scripts, and review checks.

Quiz: Complete 7 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Content idea map., Three edited post drafts., Design prompt pack., Video script template.

9Stage 9 - Advanced beginnerAI Image, Design, and Brand ToolsCreate safer image prompts, design briefs, thumbnails, ads, social posts, and brand assets with layout, style, and rights checks.Open

Lessons

  • Write better image prompts
  • Canva and design workflows
  • Adobe Firefly and commercial-safety checks
  • Brand consistency and layout review
  • Ad creative and thumbnail testing
  • Image editing and variation workflows
  • Creative rights and publishing checklist

Practice output

Project: Build a brand-ready creative pack with image prompts, Canva brief, social post, thumbnail brief, and review checklist.

Quiz: Complete 7 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Image prompt pack., Canva brief template., Creative rights checklist., Brand review checklist.

10Stage 10 - Advanced beginnerAI Video, Voice, and Presentation ToolsPlan scripts, voiceovers, captions, scenes, b-roll, slides, and review checks for practical video and presentation content.Open

Lessons

  • Short-video scripts
  • Voiceover and captions
  • Presentation and demo workflows
  • Storyboard and scene planning
  • Presentation deck from source notes
  • Demo video and product walkthrough
  • Accessibility and publishing review

Practice output

Project: Create a 30-second video plan and a five-slide presentation kit with script, scene list, voiceover text, captions, and safety review.

Quiz: Complete 7 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Short-video script pack., Voiceover and caption template., Presentation planning workflow., Storyboard template.

11Stage 11 - IntermediateAI Automation and Agents for BeginnersKnow when to use prompts, templates, automations, or AI agents, and design safer workflows with approval steps.Open

Lessons

  • Prompt, template, automation, or agent
  • Workflow maps
  • Human approval and logging
  • Cost, privacy, and error controls
  • Agent readiness review
  • CRM, sales, and lead follow-up workflow
  • Support triage and escalation workflow
  • Monitoring and improvement loop

Practice output

Project: Design one automation blueprint with trigger, inputs, AI step, approval, error handling, and cost guardrails.

Quiz: Complete 8 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Automation decision matrix., Workflow map., Approval checklist., Cost-control plan.

12Stage 12 - BeginnerEveryday Personal AI ProductivityUse AI for personal tasks in a practical way while avoiding sensitive data, medical/legal/financial reliance, and over-trusting answers.Open

Lessons

  • Personal planning and organization
  • Learning anything faster
  • Decision support without replacing judgment
  • Travel, shopping, and budget planning safely
  • Family, communication, and life admin prompts

Practice output

Project: Create a personal productivity assistant kit with planning prompts, learning prompts, habit tracker, decision checklist, and privacy rules.

Quiz: Complete 5 lesson quizzes and pass the stage review with 80 percent or higher.

Evidence: Personal planning template., AI tutor prompt pack., Decision checklist., Personal planning safety checklist.

13Stage 13 - Completion Certificate TrackPortfolio CapstoneCombine prompt writing, tool choice, output review, and workflow design into one practical AI work system.Open

Lessons

  • Choose a real problem and define success criteria
  • Build the prompt set, review checklist, and final work samples
  • Present the workflow, limitations, and human approval points

Practice output

Project: Complete one capstone workflow for work, study, business, marketing, admin, or automation.

Quiz: Final scenario quiz on responsible use, output quality, tool choice, and workflow decisions.

Evidence: Capstone brief, prompt pack, final outputs, review checklist, and learner reflection

Course catalog

Detailed courses for major AI tool families.

Certificate path

Beginner - 5 classes

AI Basics for Beginners

Use AI safely for everyday tasks, understand limitations, and know when human review is required.

Open course

Practical - 6 classes

Prompt Writing and Output Review

Turn rough requests into structured prompts and repair weak AI answers through iteration.

Open course

Practical - 6 classes

ChatGPT and AI Assistant Mastery

Run useful AI conversations, organize projects, compare answers, use files safely, and turn one-off chats into repeatable work systems.

Open course

Practical - 6 classes

Gemini and Google Workspace AI

Use Gemini-style tools for email, documents, research notes, spreadsheets, presentations, and meeting follow-up with privacy checks.

Open course

Practical - 6 classes

Microsoft Copilot for Office Work

Use Copilot-style workflows for documents, email, spreadsheets, presentations, meetings, and internal knowledge with permission awareness.

Open course

Practical - 7 classes

AI for Office, Research, and Study

Use AI to draft, summarize, compare, plan, and study while keeping human review in the loop.

Open course

Advanced beginner - 6 classes

AI for Spreadsheets, Data, and Analysis

Use AI to clean data, explain formulas, create summaries, build charts, and check analysis without trusting unverified numbers.

Open course

Advanced beginner - 7 classes

AI Content, Design, and Marketing Workflows

Plan, write, design, and review content with safe claims and a repeatable brand workflow.

Open course

Advanced beginner - 7 classes

AI Image, Design, and Brand Tools

Create safer image prompts, design briefs, thumbnails, ads, social posts, and brand assets with layout, style, and rights checks.

Open course

Advanced beginner - 7 classes

AI Video, Voice, and Presentation Tools

Plan scripts, voiceovers, captions, scenes, b-roll, slides, and review checks for practical video and presentation content.

Open course

Intermediate - 8 classes

AI Automation and Agents for Beginners

Know when to use prompts, templates, automations, or AI agents, and design safer workflows with approval steps.

Open course

Beginner - 5 classes

Everyday Personal AI Productivity

Use AI for personal tasks in a practical way while avoiding sensitive data, medical/legal/financial reliance, and over-trusting answers.

Open course

Choose a focus

Tracks for work, business, and automation.

Try AI Task Studio

Employees, students, job seekers, and office users

Workplace Productivity

Foundations, prompting, email, notes, documents, research, and productivity workflows

Outcome: Use AI to draft, summarize, organize, and review everyday work.

Freelancers, creators, founders, and small business owners

Business and Marketing

Customer research, content planning, image briefs, support replies, and campaign kits

Outcome: Create useful marketing and customer communication assets with review steps.

Operations, admin, support, and service teams

Admin and Automation

SOPs, checklists, spreadsheets, workflow maps, no-code automation, and approval gates

Outcome: Turn repeatable work into clearer systems, templates, and automation plans.