Click video below for quick course explanation. / Click audio to the right hear specific details about the course.
Click the module links to start each lesson/module. 1.1 is Level 1, Lesson 1
| 1.1 Doc / Vid / Audio | 1.2 Doc / Vid / Audio | 1.3 Doc / Vid / Audio | 1.4 Doc / Vid / Audio | 1.5 Doc / Vid / Audio |
| 2.1 Doc / Vid / Audio | 2.2 Doc / Vid / Audio | 2.3 Doc / Vid / Audio | 2.4 Doc / Vid / Audio | 2.5 Doc / Vid / Audio |
| 3.1 Doc / Vid / Audio | 3.2 Doc / Vid / Audio | 3.3 Doc / Vid / Audio | 3.4 Doc / Vid / Audio | 3.5 Doc / Vid / Audio |
| 4.1 Doc / Vid / Audio | 4.2 Doc / Vid / Audio | 4.3 Doc / Vid / Audio | 4.4 Doc / Vid / Audio | 4.5 Doc / Vid / Audio |
| 5.1 Doc / Vid / Audio | 5.2 Doc / Vid / Audio | 5.3 Doc / Vid / Audio | 5.4 Doc / Vid / Audio | 5.5 Doc / Vid / Audio |
The Journey from AI Beginner to AI Expertise
Like water, AI is a new element to navigate. This is your guide to moving from the safety of the beach to becoming an expert deep diver.
Level 1: The Observer on the Beach
This foundational level is about building a mental model of how modern AI works, much like watching the ocean from the safety of the beach. The goal is to move from a passive observer to a conscious and safe user, understanding the basic rules of engagement and the core interface before ever dipping a toe in the water.
Foundational Skill Composition
The beginner stage is a mix of conceptual understanding and practical safety. Mastering these areas is crucial before moving forward.
Key Abilities to Acquire
Conceptual Understanding
Explain what an LLM is and that it learns from patterns, not true understanding.
Interface Navigation
Confidently start chats, type prompts, and upload files like images or documents.
Awareness of Limitations
Approach AI with healthy skepticism, knowing it can “hallucinate” incorrect facts.
Digital Safety
Avoid sharing personally identifiable information (PII) and understand data privacy basics.
Level 2: The Beachcomber Wading In
This level is about moving from passive questioning to active direction, like a beachcomber wading into the shallows to interact with the current. The goal is to solve specific, concrete problems by learning how to ask better questions (prompting) and manage your interactions, engaging with the element without yet needing to swim.
Mastering Prompt Engineering: The SWIMER Framework
S – Specific Details
Provide rich context. Define the audience, your role, and the scene. The more details, the better.
W – Write Well
Use clear, concise language. Good grammar and vocabulary lead to smarter outputs.
I – Clear Instructions
Give direct, unambiguous commands. Tell the AI exactly what you want it to do.
M – Model Output
Specify the exact format you want: a list, an essay, a table, a lesson plan, etc.
E – Experiment
Iterate on prompts. Use creative phrasing and follow up with refining questions.
R – Review Results
Critically evaluate every output. Question everything and verify all facts. This is the most important step.
Level 3: The Capable Swimmer
This level is about achieving fluency, becoming a capable swimmer navigating the surface of the AI element. The goal is to seamlessly weave the AI’s capabilities into your daily work, using its power for research and creation, all while staying comfortably in your depth and mastering the strokes of proficient use.
Growing Impact of AI Fluency
As you become proficient, the cumulative impact of your AI skills on productivity and quality of work grows exponentially.
Omni-modal Synthesis
The key proficient skill is directing the AI to synthesize insights from multiple, varied sources into a single, new creation.
Report.pdf
Data.csv
Image.png
AI Synthesis
New Asset
(e.g., Presentation Outline)
Level 4: The Snorkeler
This level is about scaling your expertise, like a snorkeler who can now look beneath the surface to see the structures below. The goal is to move beyond personal productivity to designing and managing AI workflows for others, taking brief, targeted dives to understand the underlying systems and create efficient, responsible processes for a team or department.
Designing Omni-modal Workflows
An advanced user architects new processes that strategically blend human expertise with AI automation for maximum efficiency.
Analyze Existing Process
Map the current human-only workflow to identify bottlenecks.
Identify AI Interventions
Pinpoint steps where AI can draft, summarize, analyze, or format.
Design New Flow
Create a new flowchart with clear human and AI roles.
Train & Implement
Upskill the team and roll out the new, more efficient process.
The Advanced Skill Set
Advanced skills are multi-faceted, covering policy, process design, team management, and strategic thinking.
Level 5: The Deep Diver
This level is about shaping the future, becoming a deep diver equipped to explore and influence the AI ecosystem for extended periods. The goal is to move beyond tactics to set long-term strategy, using a profound understanding of the deep currents of AI to create unique advantages, discover new possibilities, and lead responsibly within this transformative element.
Strategic Impact of Expert Skills
Expert skills vary in their complexity and strategic scope. The ultimate goal is to formulate a vision that drives the entire organization forward.
Bridging the Domain-to-Technical Gap
The expert acts as an essential translator, ensuring strategic goals are technically feasible and technical capabilities are strategically applied.
Organizational
Leadership
“What we need”
The Expert
↔️Technical
Teams
“What is possible”