AI Fundamentals On-Demand

Master the essentials of AI in your own time. Access through your learning portal.

Virtual
5 modules
Beginner
Self-paced

Overview

AI Fundamentals is our self-paced course for anyone who wants a proper working knowledge of AI, on their own schedule.

The course contains five short modules, ready to start immediately. You do them in your own time, with no live sessions to attend.

We take you from what generative AI actually is through to using it confidently at work: how these models work, where they fail, how to prompt them properly, and how to stay on the right side of privacy and accuracy. Each module includes resources to download and a task to complete before moving on, so you build understanding as you go rather than just watching videos.

By the end, AI won't feel like a vague concept anymore. You'll understand what it is, how it works, and how to use it to your advantage.

Hosted by Stephanie Stasey, Microsoft Certified Trainer, who has led some of the largest AI adoption programmes at Microsoft.

Module breakdown

What AI actually is

The plain-English version, with none of the hype.

What you master

Understand how generative AI produces an answer
Tell the difference between models, products and wrappers
Know the vocabulary that gets used around you every day

Tools you get

AI terminology glossary
Every AI term you're likely to hear at work, explained simply.
Map of the key players
Who builds the models, who builds the products, and how they relate.

OutcomeYou can explain what AI is and isn't without reaching for jargon.

Prompting fundamentals

Getting a usable answer the first time.

What you master

Structure a prompt with role, context, task and format
Use few-shot examples and context framing
Iterate a weak output into a strong one

Tools you get

Anatomy of a prompt
A one-page diagram of what a strong prompt contains.
Prompt starter library
Ready-made prompts for writing, summarising, research and planning.

OutcomeYou write prompts that get useful results in seconds.

Working safely

Data, privacy and accuracy in the real world.

What you master

Spot hallucinations before they reach a colleague or client
Understand what happens to the data you paste in
Recognise bias and confidentiality risk in AI output

Tools you get

Safe-use checklist
A quick pre-send check for anything AI helped you produce.
Red-flag examples pack
Real AI mistakes, annotated so you can see the tells.

OutcomeYou use AI confidently without creating risk for your organisation.

Everyday AI use cases

Where it genuinely saves time.

What you master

Apply AI to writing, summarising, research and planning
Choose the right tool for the task in front of you
Avoid the tasks where AI costs more time than it saves

Tools you get

Use-case swipe file
Worked examples across common workplace tasks.
Tool selection framework
A simple decision guide for picking a tool per task.

OutcomeYou have a handful of AI habits already saving you hours each week.

Assessment and certificate

Prove what you've learned.

What you master

Complete a short scenario-based assessment
Apply everything from the previous modules to a real task

Tools you get

Certificate of completion
Shareable proof of your AI fundamentals credential.

OutcomeYou finish certified, with evidence you can put on your CV or LinkedIn.

What learners say

“I'd been meaning to get my head around AI properly for months. This gave me a clear framework in an afternoon, and I actually feel like I know what I'm talking about now.”

RachelOperations Manager

“The prompting module alone was worth it. I'd been using AI for over a year and had no idea I was doing it wrong.”

JamesSenior Account Executive

“The bit on models versus products was so interesting. I'd been confusing the two for ages.”

PriyaHead of Partnerships

Graduate certified

AI Fundamentals — certificate of completion, issued on assessment and yours to share on your CV and LinkedIn.

Anyone starting with AI at work who wants solid foundations before going further.

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