Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
This beginner-friendly course introduces students to artificial intelligence (AI) and teaches them how to use tools like ChatGPT® through clear and effective prompt engineering techniques. Students will learn AI basics, including key concepts, how machine learning works, and why data matters. The course also teaches practical skills like improving AI responses, using AI for writing, planning, and summarizing, and exploring the future of AI and its impact on society. Responsible AI use is a key focus throughout.
Faculty Contact Information
By Appointment
Sherly Avvaru
savvaru@kcc.edu
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, including its history, key concepts, and major technological milestones.
- Identify different types of AI technologies and describe how they are used in varying fields.
- Analyze the role and importance of data in AI systems, including ethical considerations such as bias, privacy, and data quality.
- Describe what prompt engineering is, including the components of an effective AI prompt and why prompt design matters.
- Apply core prompt engineering techniques to complete tasks such as writing, planning, summarizing, and problem-solving using AI tools like ChatGPT®.
- Evaluate and refine AI outputs, adjusting prompts to improve clarity, relevance, and accuracy across different AI platforms.
- Discuss the practical challenges organizations face when implementing AI, such as cost, training, and ethical use, and reflect on how these challenges affect adoption.
- Explore future trends in AI and assess their potential impact on society, work, and everyday life, including both benefits and risks.
- Explore the history, purpose, and key ideas behind AI, including how it has evolved and why it matters today.
- Learn about different types of AI
- Understand what prompt engineering is, why it’s important, and how it improves AI tools
- Discover how to write clear, effective prompts using techniques like zero-shot, few-shot, and role-based prompting, and how to refine AI responses.
- Discuss important issues like bias, privacy, misinformation, and the need to use AI responsibly in school, work, and everyday life.
- See how AI and prompt engineering are used in industries like business, healthcare, education, and customer service.
- Learn about the key steps, challenges, and decisions involved when companies or schools use AI tools.
- Explore how AI may change jobs, learning, and society, and what skills people will need in an AI-driven world.
UCertify – AI Basics & Prompt Engineering
Additional: A PC with Windows 10 or higher along with Internet access is required for successfully working with the materials to complete this course.
If needed, KCC may be able to lend students Windows laptops for particular tasks for a duration. You may call your program advisor, ITS (815) 802-8900 or Bookstore 815-802-8590 for more information.
Student evaluation is based on points accrued assignments and quizzes as well as instructor assigned chapter quizzes and exams. Point values may change based on added or removed assignments.
• Assignments – 40%
• Discussions – 20%
• Quizzes – 10%
• Exams – 20%
• Professionalism – 10%
Business, Technology & Human Services
Dean, Paul Carlson; 815-802-8858; V105; pcarlson@kcc.edu; Division Office – W102; 815-802-8650
Attendance Policy – Virtual or Face-to-Face
Attendance is mandatory. If a class or lab session must be missed, arrangements must be made prior to the absence. If an absence is not planned, a valid excuse (i.e., doctor’s note, etc.) must be provided to the instructor for each missed session at the beginning of the following class session. Make-up work, including assignments, quizzes, exams, etc., is provided at the discretion of the instructor and must be completed within one week of the missed class period.
Readings
This course requires you to read the assigned reading from the instructor. Lectures will provide only an overview of the reading material. You are expected to come to class prepared for that day’s lecture.
Quizzes, Assignments, & Exams
Each of you possess different test taking abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. With this in mind, due diligence has been used in designing all quizzes, assignments, and exams so that they may contain a mixture of multiple choice, matching, short answer recall and essay. Quizzes are meant to assess your recall and retention of lecture, reading, and lab materials. Assignments will be administered as a follow up for select topics throughout the semester. Exams are designed to assess retention of lecture and reading materials, while also assessing your ability to compare /contrast and apply concepts. Additional information:
• Quizzes may be posted on Canvas.
• On face-to-face quiz and exam days, students must arrive on time and be ready to take the quiz or exam at the start of class.
o If a student enters the classroom late on a quiz day, he/she may take the quiz as long as at least one student is still in possession of the quiz. If all students have completed and turned in the quiz, he/she may not take the quiz.
o Students will not be permitted to enter the classroom and take the exam once the exam has started.
• Once an exam or quiz has been administered, a student will not be permitted to leave for any reason until he/she turns the exam in.
• If a student’s cell phone is disruptive during an exam or quiz, the student will receive a zero on that exam.
• If a student is found using their cell phone in any way during an exam or quiz, it will be considered to be a case of cheating and the student will receive a zero on the exam as well as the possibility of receiving an F for the course grade.
• Late assignments will not be accepted unless arrangements are made – see Attendance Policy.
Lab
Labs will be hands-on and reinforce the concepts and practices discussed during lecture. After or during each lab exercise you may be required to complete a lab worksheet. These worksheets will be due to the instructor when directed.
Classroom Guidelines – Virtual and Face-to-Face
• Turn off all cell phones and all other items that may beep, buzz, or otherwise interrupt the instructor and other students. If you must have your cell phone on for work or a family emergency, set it to vibrate and leave the classroom if you receive a call.
• No texting during class.
• Failure to follow either of the above rules will result in a warning (first offense), 5 point deduction from your class grade (second offense), and removal from the class period (third and beyond offense).
• This is your course! You will gain the most from this course if you actively participate in classroom and lab discussions and share your experiences and questions.
• Learn the names of your classmates and help one another whenever possible (but not during quizzes and exams).
• This is your classroom! Take responsibility for the classroom and lab areas by picking up after yourself.
• Audio/video recording of class is not permitted unless pre-approved by the instructor
• Laptop usage is not allowed during class, unless otherwise stated by instructor.
• iPod usage or headphone devices of any kind are not allowed during class
• Arrive promptly before class begins.
• No tobacco products may be used on campus.
• Know and follow basic safety rules. Report any accidents, injuries, spills, or problems to the instructor immediately.
• Do not come to class when you are ill and likely to infect others.
• Minor children are not allowed in the classroom or lab areas for safety reasons.
• No students will be allowed to work in lab areas outside of class time without instructor permission and appropriate supervision.
Student Integrity
All students are expected to take quizzes, exams, write papers, and conduct themselves with integrity, common sense, and respect for their fellow students, the instructor, and the academic institution. Students should not jeopardize their own honesty or that of other students.
Cheating will not be tolerated. Upon evidence of student cheating, the student will be dropped from the course and receive a grade of F in the course.
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non-Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at https://catalog.kcc.edu.
Week | Contents | Module |
| Week 1 | AI Foundations
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| Week 2 | Data
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| Week 3 | Machine Learning
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| Week 4 | Deep Learning
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| Week 5 | Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
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| Week 6 | Natural Language Processing (NLP)
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| Week 7 | Physical Robots
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| Week 8 | Implementation of AI
The Future of AI |
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The Role of Prompts in Interacting with ChatGPT
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| Week 10 | Asking Specific Questions
Providing Constraints and Guidelines
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| Week 11 | Creative Prompts for Diverse Content
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| Week 12 | Debugging and Iterating Prompts
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| Week 13 | Advanced Prompt Engineering
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| Week 14 | Real-World Applications
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| Week 15 | Future Trends and Ethical Considerations
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| Week 16 | Review / Final |
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College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.