Understanding AI: how it works and what it can do
Understand AI, protect information, write useful prompts and check results through a small practical project.
Hello World Learning
- Units
- 4
- Level
- Beginner
- Learning format
- Self-paced or facilitated
- Content language
- English
About this course
Understand AI, protect information, write useful prompts and check results through a small practical project.
Free, self-guided learning with optional facilitated sessions. Four weeks, approximately 16 learning hours; take longer when needed.
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Explain AI, data, training and models in simple words.
- Describe the difference between an online AI service and a model running locally.
- Choose appropriate information to put into an AI tool.
- Write a clear request and improve the response through follow-up questions.
- Use AI to help with learning, writing, summarising and other small tasks.
- Notice mistakes, unfair assumptions and information that needs verification.
- Complete a useful output and explain what you checked and changed.
Your learning journey
Open a unit to see what you will work towards. Enrol to access its lessons and practice.
Week 1: Meet AI, choose tools and protect your information
This week, you will discover what AI can do, where different tools process information and what to keep private. You will finish with a first safe hands-on task.
Week 2: How AI learns and generates answers
Last week, you explored an assistant and checked a notice, using a live tool or the supplied practice example. This week, you will explore what happens behind the screen. You will connect data, training, models and generated responses, ...
Week 3: Discover useful things AI can do
You now have a way to ask clearly and check information. This week, you will try different uses. Your aim is to find activities that help you, not to use AI for everything.
Week 4: Evaluate limitations and make responsible choices
This week, you will practise deciding what to trust, correct or reject. You will bring those decisions together in a small project you can explain.
How you will learn
Read the lessons, save all weekly and final practice, and confirm the self-checks. Then pass the final 20-question knowledge check with 16/20 (80%). Unlimited attempts, no time limit; your highest score is retained. The certificate recognises self-guided course completion, not independently verified practical skill. Optional PDFs and Feedback do not affect completion.
Approximately 16 learning hours, at your own pace. Practice is private to you and authorised staff. Optional facilitated sessions use the same material; no live support service is promised.
Before you start
No previous AI experience required. Use a notebook, calculator and supported phone, tablet or computer. Live AI practice needs an eligible supported tool arrangement; core tasks require no paid subscription. Internet is needed to save work in Moodle.
RECOGNISE YOUR PROGRESS
A certificate of completion
Complete the required readings, save your practices and confirm your self-checks. Then pass the final knowledge check to earn your Hello World completion certificate.
- 20 final questions
- Pass mark: 80%
- Unlimited attempts
- No time limit
Your highest score is retained. Review the feedback and revisit lessons before trying again.
Once you qualify, download your PDF from the certificate activity at no extra cost. Issued certificates are also available in My certificates.
Public verification by code or QR shows your name, course, issuer and award date. It does not show your email or practice work.
This recognises course completion; it is not an accredited qualification or an identity check.
Take your next step
Open the course and begin with its welcome guide. You can pause and return to your saved work.