Working With LLMs
Use AI like a skilled instrument, not a magic box.
A hands-on, self-paced course in getting reliable work out of AI models, knowing exactly when they fail, and never handing over your own thinking. No coding. About 12 hours. Works on your phone.
Try it now
This is the opening of the first lesson. Make a guess first, then see what a model actually said, and why.
Predict first
We asked an AI model how many times the letter a appears in "hakunamatata". What did it say?
Committing first is the point: a guess you wrote down is a guess you can learn from.
What you will be able to do
- 1Explain to a friend how an AI model actually produces a sentence, and predict where it will fail before it does.
- 2Turn a vague request into a brief that reliably gets what you meant, and work out why a prompt failed.
- 3Pick the right technique for the task (examples, step-by-step reasoning, structured output, breaking it down) and know when each is wasted effort.
- 4Say what retrieval, tools and agents add to a bare model, and which one fixes your problem.
- 5Check AI output against sources, catch fabrication, and measure how often the model is right on your own task.
- 6Decide, and defend, when to use AI and when not to, with integrity, privacy and bias in view.
- 7Design and document an AI-assisted workflow for a real task in your own field.
Course outline
About 12 hours in seven modules, plus a short start-here module.
- 1. How LLMs actually work · The one-sentence mental model that predicts their behaviour89 min
- 2. Prompting fundamentals · Writing the brief you would give a capable stranger77 min
- 3. Advanced techniques · Matching the technique to the shape of the task82 min
- 4. Retrieval, tools and agents · Letting the model read, act and work in steps, safely94 min
- 5. Verification · Knowing what to check, and measuring reliability114 min
- 6. Ethics and responsible use · Deciding whether to use the model at all69 min
- 7. LLMs in your field · Building and testing your own workflow157 min
How it works
You learn more from watching a model fail than from watching it succeed.
Short lessons, one idea each
Most lessons take 8 to 14 minutes and start with a guess, not a lecture. No videos, so they load quickly on a phone and a slow connection.
A built-in AI playground
Run real models inside the lessons. Nothing to install and no separate AI subscription. Each exercise shows the runs you have left, and recorded runs take over if you use them up.
Your own pace
Every module is open from day one. Choose a 2, 4 or 6 week pace, change it whenever you like, and pick up exactly where you stopped.
A failure in every module
Each module includes a deliberate failure you predict, watch and diagnose, so you learn where these models break before it costs you.
Who it is for
- Students and working people from any discipline who already use AI tools, or are about to.
- No coding required, and no technical background assumed.
- The skills are model-agnostic, so they outlast any single product or app.
What you leave with
A portfolio of your own work
A failure log, a prompt brief, an audit of AI output, a small evaluation and a workflow for your own field, each with an honest note of how you used AI.
A mastery map
Each of the seven outcomes shown as practised, demonstrated or applied, plus a before-and-after comparison of where you started.
A certificate of completion
It states exactly how you were assessed: automated checks and AI-generated feedback, with no human grading.
One payment: KES 2,500
- Every module and lab, including lessons added while your access lasts
- An AI allowance of about 70 playground runs, never shown in money
- Recorded runs for every exercise, so you can finish even if the allowance runs out
- Automated feedback on every question and labelled AI feedback on most written work
Access lasts 12 months from the day you enrol.
Questions
Do I need to code?
No. Everything happens in your browser through plain-language prompts. There is no code to write anywhere in the core course.
Do I need my own ChatGPT or Claude account?
No. The course has a built-in playground that runs real models for you, paid for out of your course fee. You can practise in other tools too if you like, and the course shows you how to say so honestly.
What is the AI allowance, and what happens if I run out?
Each exercise has a small number of live runs, and the course as a whole allows about 70, with a daily limit. Nothing is shown in money. If you run out, or the playground is paused, the exercise switches to recorded runs, so you can always complete the course.
How long does it take?
About 12 hours in total. The recommended pace is 4 weeks at about 3 hours a week, but you can sprint it in 2 weeks or spread it over 6.
Can I do it on a phone?
Yes. Every lesson is designed for a phone screen first, there are no videos, and pages are light enough for a slow connection.
Is there a teacher?
No. This is a self-paced course. Every question explains its answer automatically. Most written work gets AI-generated feedback that is clearly labelled as such and never decides your result on its own; the rest you check yourself against a checklist and a strong example.
What does the certificate say?
It is a certificate of completion for Working With LLMs, with your name and the date. It states how you were assessed: automated checks and AI-generated rubric feedback, with no human grading. It is not an academic credit or accreditation.
Which AI model does it use, and will the skills transfer?
The playground uses Claude models from Anthropic. The course itself is model-agnostic: what you learn about how these models work, how to brief them and how to check them applies to ChatGPT, Gemini, open models and whatever comes next.
How do I pay with M-Pesa, and what is the refund policy?
Tap "Enrol with M-Pesa", enter your phone number and approve the prompt on your phone with your M-Pesa PIN. Access opens as soon as the payment is confirmed. If the course is not for you, ask for a refund within 7 days of paying, as long as you have not yet passed Module 1's Prove it check.
What happens to what I type?
What you type into the playground is sent to Anthropic, which processes it outside Kenya to produce the reply. It is stored with your account so you can see your own history and so we can prevent misuse. It is never used to rank you against other learners. Do not paste other people's personal data or anything confidential; the course explains why.