AI Prompts That Actually Work
You write prompts that get a usable answer more often, fix the answers that miss, and keep a library of your own.
Steps checked on Oct 21, 2026 for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude Code. Pick your AI to see what was checked for it.
What you'll learn
- Spot why an answer went wrong before you try again.
- Write a prompt with context, an example and the format you want.
- Fix a bad answer by saying exactly what to change.
- Check any fact, number or quote before you use it.
- Keep a library of your own prompts that worked, ready to reuse.
Skills you'll practice
Syllabus
Module 1Why answers go wrong2 lessons · 15 min
Module 2Context, examples, format3 lessons · 23 min
Module 3Fixing a bad answer3 lessons · 23 min
Module 4Your prompt library2 lessons · 15 min
Who it's for
You have tried AI and got answers that missed the point.
A simple way to ask so the first answer is more often usable.
You are good with tech and want to get good at AI fast.
The few moves that change answers the most, practiced on your own tasks.
You use Copilot or another AI at work and want less back and forth.
Prompts for your own recurring work, saved in a library you keep.
You are a parent who wants to show your family how to ask AI well.
Clear habits you can explain at home, practiced on made-up examples.
Before you start
- None.
- Never used an AI? Start with AI for Beginners, if you like.
- Nothing to install. Every lesson runs on this site.
- If you use an AI already, you can try each prompt there too.
What the AI may do in this course
It may
Drafts from what you type or paste. Nothing is connected.
What this course won't do
- Paste other people's private details into an AI, or your company's confidential work.
- Sell you a list of magic prompts. You write your own, for your own work.
- Give legal, tax, investment or medical advice. A qualified professional decides those.
- Ask for a password, a card number, an ID, or a code a site texts or emails you, here or in any AI.
- Promise what an AI will say. AIs answer differently from one try to the next, so every lesson says what to look for instead.
How this course is kept current
What we checked, per AI
| AI | Checked | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Oct 21, 2026 | Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote OpenAI's help page. Not yet run in ChatGPT. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI. |
| Claude | Oct 21, 2026 | Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote the Claude Help Center. Not yet run in Claude. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI. |
| Gemini | Oct 23, 2026 | Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote Gemini Apps Help for personal accounts, and Google Workspace Admin Help for work or school accounts. Not yet run in Gemini. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI. |
| Microsoft Copilot | Oct 21, 2026 | Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote Microsoft Support, for Microsoft 365 Copilot. The personal Copilot app is not checked yet. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI. |
| Claude Code | Oct 21, 2026 | Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote the Claude Code docs. Not yet run in Claude Code. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI. |
| No AI yet | Oct 22, 2026 | Runs on this site. Every lesson runs on this site. |
Finish it and get a certificate you can share, cancelled only if you take a refund.