# AI for Productivity at Work — Course Outline

## Course Overview
This 8‑week, blended‑learning program shows professionals how to harness generative AI tools to streamline daily tasks, enhance decision‑making, and boost personal and team productivity. Learners will move from foundational concepts to hands‑on workflows, building a personalized AI‑assistant playbook they can deploy immediately in their workplace.

## Who This Course Is For
- Knowledge workers, managers, and team leaders who spend 60%+ of their day on information‑heavy tasks.  
- Professionals new to AI who need practical, no‑code solutions.  
- Mid‑level employees looking to future‑proof their skill set and become “AI‑enabled” power users.  

## Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:  
1. Identify high‑impact work processes ripe for AI augmentation.  
2. Select and configure the right AI tool (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, etc.) for each use case.  
3. Design prompts that reliably produce accurate, bias‑aware outputs.  
4. Automate repetitive tasks using low‑code integrations (Zapier, Power Automate, Make).  
5. Create AI‑driven knowledge‑management systems for rapid information retrieval.  
6. Measure productivity gains and maintain ethical AI practices in the workplace.

---

## Module 1 – Foundations of Generative AI in the Workplace
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 1.1 What is Generative AI? | Overview of large language models, diffusion models, and their business relevance. | Explain core AI concepts and differentiate between AI types. | Video (10 min) |
| 1.2 AI Myths & Realities | Debunk common misconceptions and set realistic expectations. | Identify realistic vs. exaggerated AI capabilities. | Worksheet |
| 1.3 The AI Productivity Landscape | Survey of leading workplace AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, Jasper, Notion AI, etc.). | Compare key features to match tools with tasks. | Interactive PDF + Quiz |
| 1.4 Ethical & Security Basics | Data privacy, bias, and compliance considerations. | Apply basic ethical guidelines when using AI at work. | Video (8 min) + Checklist |

## Module 2 – Mapping Your Workflows for AI Integration
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 2.1 Workflow Audit Toolkit | Step‑by‑step audit to spot repetitive, information‑heavy tasks. | Conduct a personal workflow audit and list top 5 AI‑ready tasks. | Worksheet |
| 2.2 Prioritizing High‑Impact Use Cases | Scoring matrix to rank tasks by ROI and feasibility. | Prioritize AI use cases using a data‑driven scorecard. | Video (7 min) + Scoring Sheet |
| 2.3 Building an AI Integration Plan | Draft a 30‑day implementation roadmap. | Create a concrete plan with milestones and success metrics. | Template + Mini‑Assignment |

## Module 3 – Mastering Prompt Engineering
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 3.1 Prompt Fundamentals | Structure, tone, and context for reliable outputs. | Write clear, concise prompts that produce desired results. | Video (12 min) |
| 3.2 Advanced Techniques | Few‑shot prompting, chain‑of‑thought, and role‑playing. | Apply advanced prompting patterns to complex problems. | Worksheet + Prompt Library |
| 3.3 Prompt Testing & Iteration | Using temperature, max tokens, and feedback loops. | Optimize prompts through systematic testing. | Interactive Demo + Quiz |
| 3.4 Guardrails & Bias Mitigation | Embedding safety instructions and bias checks. | Design prompts that minimize bias and respect guidelines. | Video (6 min) + Checklist |

## Module 4 – AI‑Powered Communication & Writing
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 4.1 Drafting Emails & Reports in Seconds | Using AI to generate, edit, and personalize professional correspondence. | Produce polished emails and briefs with AI assistance. | Live Demo + Worksheet |
| 4.2 Summarizing Long Documents | AI techniques for extracting key insights from PDFs, meetings, and research papers. | Create accurate summaries and action items from extensive content. | Video (9 min) + Practice Exercise |
| 4.3 Collaborative Writing with AI | Real‑time co‑authoring in Teams, Google Docs, and Notion. | Leverage AI as a collaborative teammate for shared documents. | Interactive Lab |
| 4.4 Maintaining Voice & Brand Consistency | Customizing AI output to match organizational tone. | Configure AI to align with corporate style guides. | Worksheet + Template |

## Module 5 – Automating Routine Tasks without Code
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 5.1 Introduction to No‑Code Automation Platforms | Zapier, Power Automate, Make.com – quick comparison. | Choose the right platform for a given workflow. | Video (8 min) |
| 5.2 Building Your First AI‑Driven Zap | Connect ChatGPT to email, Slack, or Google Sheets. | Create a functional automation that routes AI‑generated content. | Step‑by‑Step Video + Lab |
| 5.3 Scheduling, Reminders & Follow‑Ups | Automating calendar invites, task creation, and status updates. | Set up AI‑enhanced scheduling automations. | Worksheet + Mini‑Project |
| 5.4 Monitoring & Maintaining Automations | Error handling, logging, and continuous improvement. | Implement a maintenance routine for reliable automations. | Checklist + Quiz |

## Module 6 – AI‑Enhanced Data Analysis & Decision Support
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 6.1 Quick Data Exploration with AI | Using natural language to query spreadsheets and databases. | Retrieve insights from data without SQL. | Video (10 min) + Practice File |
| 6.2 Generating Visuals & Dashboards | Prompt‑based chart creation in Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI. | Produce visualizations directly from AI prompts. | Interactive Demo |
| 6.3 Scenario Planning & Forecasting | AI‑assisted “what‑if” analysis for project management. | Build and evaluate multiple project scenarios using AI. | Worksheet + Case Study |
| 6.4 Communicating Insights Effectively | Turning AI‑generated analysis into executive‑ready decks. | Craft compelling presentations from AI data outputs. | Video (7 min) + Template |

## Module 7 – Personal AI Assistant Playbook
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 7.1 Designing Your AI Assistant Persona | Defining role, tone, and scope for a personal assistant. | Create a customized AI persona aligned with your workflow. | Worksheet |
| 7.2 Integrating Across Tools (Slack, Teams, Outlook) | Centralizing AI interactions through single sign‑on hubs. | Set up seamless AI access across daily apps. | Video (9 min) + Setup Guide |
| 7.3 Continuous Learning & Fine‑Tuning | Using feedback loops to improve assistant performance. | Implement a feedback system to refine AI outputs over time. | Mini‑Assignment |
| 7.4 Measuring ROI & Productivity Gains | Metrics, dashboards, and reporting for AI impact. | Quantify productivity improvements and present results to leadership. | Quiz + KPI Template |

## Module 8 – Scaling AI Adoption & Future Trends
| Lesson | Description | Learning Objective | Format |
|--------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| 8.1 Change Management for AI Roll‑out | Strategies to win buy‑in from teammates and managers. | Lead an AI adoption initiative within a team. | Video (11 min) |
| 8.2 Building an AI‑Ready Culture | Training, documentation, and governance frameworks. | Establish sustainable AI practices organization‑wide. | Worksheet |
| 8.3 Emerging Tools & Skills to Watch | Overview of upcoming models, plugins, and low‑code AI. | Identify future AI trends relevant to productivity. | Podcast Episode + Reading List |
| 8.4 Capstone Project Presentation | Learners showcase their AI productivity system. | Demonstrate a complete, deployable AI workflow. | Live Presentation + Peer Review |

---

## How to Deliver This Course
1. **Learning Management System (LMS)** – Host videos, PDFs, quizzes, and discussion boards (e.g., Teachable, Thinkific, or Canvas).  
2. **Blended Delivery** – Weekly 60‑minute live Zoom workshops for labs and Q&A; all other content on‑demand.  
3. **Micro‑Learning Assets** – Short (5‑10 min) videos and bite‑size worksheets released each Monday; weekend “office hours” for support.  
4. **Community Hub** – Private Slack/Discord channel for peer collaboration, prompt sharing, and troubleshooting.  
5. **Assessment Strategy** – End‑of‑module quizzes (10 % each) + a final capstone project (30 %). Pass threshold: 70 % overall.  
6. **Certification** – Digital badge and printable certificate upon meeting assessment criteria.  
7. **Analytics** – Use LMS dashboards to track completion, quiz scores, and time‑on‑task; feed data into ROI reporting for corporate clients.  

*End of Outline.*