Beginner · 5 lessons · about 35 min · free certificate

Prompting that works

Learn a simple, repeatable way to ask AI for what you actually want: goal, context and format, plus examples, roles, step-by-step requests, iteration and reusable templates.

For: Anyone who has tried an AI chat tool and got vague or disappointing answers, and wants better results with less guessing.

Start lesson 1

When you finish

  • You can write a prompt that states a clear goal, useful context and the format you want.
  • You can use examples and roles to steer tone and style.
  • You can ask for step-by-step work and improve a first answer through follow-up requests.
  • You can build a reusable prompt template for a task you repeat.
  • You can diagnose why an answer is bad and fix the prompt.

Lessons

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  1. Goal, context and format: the three-part promptabout 5 minWhen you finish, you can turn a vague request into a clear prompt that gets a useful first answer.
  2. Examples, roles and tone: steering the styleabout 5 minWhen you finish, you can use examples and roles to make AI writing sound the way you want.
  3. Working step by step and breaking big jobs apartabout 5 minWhen you finish, you can split a large task into steps and guide the tool through them for better results.
  4. Iteration: improving the first answerabout 5 minWhen you finish, you can turn a so-so first answer into a strong one with short, targeted follow-up requests.
  5. Reusable templates and fixing bad answersabout 5 minWhen you finish, you can save your best prompts as templates and diagnose why an answer went wrong.

Final exam and certificate

10 questions. Score 8 or more for a free certificate of completion you can share and add to LinkedIn. Unlimited tries.

Take the final exam

Prompts you can use today

Copy one, replace the [brackets] with your details, and paste it into the AI tool you use. Leave out anything private.

Goal, context, format starter

Goal: [what I want to end up with]. Context: [who it is for, what I already have, any limits]. Format: [length, structure, tone]. If you need more information before starting, ask me up to three questions first.

Rewrite in my voice

Here are two short things I wrote so you can learn my voice: [sample 1] [sample 2]. Now rewrite the draft below in that voice without adding new facts. Draft: [paste draft]

Plan before writing

I need to [task]. Before you write anything, list the steps you would take and the questions you would ask me. Wait for my reply before you produce the final version.

Three options then refine

Give me three different versions of [item], each with a different tone: warm, direct, and playful. Label them A, B and C. I will tell you which to refine.

Critique my draft

Act as a careful editor. Read my draft for [audience]. List the three biggest problems first, then give a revised version that fixes them. Keep my meaning. Draft: [paste draft]

Build a reusable template

Turn this successful request into a fill-in-the-blank template I can reuse, with [brackets] for the parts that change and a short note on what to put in each one. Request: [paste your best prompt]

Fix a bad answer

Your last answer missed the mark. Here is what was wrong: [describe]. Here is what I wanted instead: [describe]. Ask me any questions you need, then try again.

Explain it step by step

Walk me through [process or problem] one step at a time. After each step, pause and let me say ‘next’ or ask a question. Use simple words and one real-life example.

Ask the AI tutor

Ask anything about this course, in any language. The tutor is an AI: it can be wrong, and it never needs your personal details.

AI-drafted. Checked by an automated validator and a separate AI reviewer; a person has not read every lesson. Translations and tutor answers are AI-made. Found a mistake? Tell us. Tool facts last checked November 2026; features change, so check the product's own help pages. AI can be wrong. General information, not professional advice. Product names identify the tools taught; no affiliation or endorsement. Current University is not accredited; certificates of completion are not degrees, credit or licenses.