AI Fluency lesson

Introduction to AI Fluency

Estimated time for this module: 10-15 minutes

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and structure of the course
• Recognize the importance of AI Fluency in today's world
• Identify key components of your learning journey ahead
• Set clear expectations for what you'll gain from this course

Introduction to AI Fluency

(4 minutes)

Welcome! This video introduces you to this course’s focus: developing meaningful collaboration with AI rather than just learning about AI technology. We explain that this course explores how to build a lasting framework for working with AI systems that goes beyond simple and temporary tips and tricks. We explain what we mean by AI Fluency: it is the ability to collaborate with AI in ways that are effective, efficient, ethical, and safe. We also outline the course structure, which covers each of the AI Fluency core competencies (the 4Ds) as well as key technical and practical concepts. By the end of the course, you'll have a framework for thoughtful AI interaction, confidence in choosing when and how to work with AI effectively, practical collaboration skills, and the ability to evaluate and disseminate AI-assisted work responsibly.

Key takeaways

• This course focuses on human-AI collaboration, not just understanding AI as a technology
• AI Fluency means engaging with AI systems effectively, efficiently, ethically, and safely
• The AI Fluency Framework centers on the "4D" competencies of Delegation, Description, Discernment and Diligence
• The goal is to develop lasting skills that remain relevant as AI technology evolves
• Effective AI collaboration requires both practical skills and a fundamental shift in how we think about working with AI

Exercises

Putting things into practice

You'll need access to a language model (5-10 mins)

Throughout this course, you'll practice what you're learning by working directly with a language model. While our examples feature Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant), you're welcome to work with any language model you prefer. The principles and skills we'll explore apply across different AI systems.

Getting started is simple and free:

• Claude: Visit claude.ai to create a free account
• No paid subscriptions required to complete course activities
• You can also use other AI chatbots as you prefer

New to Claude? No worries! We'll provide clear guidance with each exercise to help you get started.

Reflection

Before moving on, take a moment to consider your own experiences with AI:

• What challenges have you encountered when working with AI to achieve specific outcomes?
• What possibilities for AI collaboration excite you most?
• What do you hope to gain from this course?

What’s next

In the next lesson, we'll explore why AI Fluency matters in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. We’ll introduce three key ways people collaborate with AI (Automation, Augmentation, and Agency) and the core competencies of the AI Fluency Framework: the "4Ds" of Delegation, Description, Discernment, and Diligence.

Feedback on this course

As you progress through the course, we'd love to hear from you about how you are using concepts from the course in your life, work, or classes and any feedback you may have. Share your feedback here.

Acknowledgments and license

Copyright 2025 Rick Dakan, Joseph Feller, and Anthropic. Released under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. This course is based on The AI Fluency Framework by Dakan and Feller. Supported in part by the Higher Education Authority, Ireland, through the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.