Gen Ed Level • 3 Units

Applied AI: Building, Automation, and Reliable Use

Course Description:

This course introduces students to modern applied AI practices for creating real academic and professional deliverables. Students learn foundational AI concepts and failure modes, then use AI to design and execute multi-step workflows that can support writing, research, analysis, and product creation (e.g., prototypes, websites, and automation scripts). Emphasis is placed on reliability: students evaluate outputs using test plans and rubrics, verify claims with credible sources, document decisions in process logs, and apply responsible-use practices related to privacy, bias, and disclosure. Students complete a portfolio of AI-assisted artifacts and demonstrate mastery through an oral workflow walkthrough.

Assessment-First Design:

Workflow labs Evaluation plans Verification checklists Portfolio + oral defense

Who It's For (Make Adoption Easy)

Fits

  • • Gen Ed elective
  • • Special Topics
  • • CTL-sponsored
  • • Extension
  • • Career readiness

Audience

Any major

(freshman–senior)

Prereqs

None

(or "basic college writing recommended")

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1

Explain common generative AI capabilities and limitations, including frequent failure modes.

2

Design AI-assisted workflows with defined goals, constraints, and success criteria for academic and professional tasks.

3

Evaluate AI outputs using rubrics, test cases, and counterexample checks, and revise based on findings.

4

Verify factual claims using credible sources and document source traces and confidence levels.

5

Apply responsible-use practices related to privacy, bias, disclosure, and academic integrity.

6

Produce a portfolio of AI-assisted artifacts with complete process documentation and reflective analysis.

What Makes This Different

The First Course of Its Kind

We don't just teach GenAI—we teach reliability. Students learn to design, test, verify, and defend AI-assisted workflows with professional-grade rigor.

Process-Based Assessment System

Process Logs

Students document prompts, iterations, and version history—complete transparency of their workflow

Verification Checklist

Claim ledger mapping every statement to a source or flagging it as unverified

Evaluation Plans

Test cases, counterexamples, and reliability scoring—students prove outputs work

Oral Walkthroughs

3–5 minute presentations where students explain their process and reasoning

Portfolio Artifacts

Curated professional work with full documentation—evidence of competency development

Repeatable Rubrics

Clear assessment criteria that work at scale—from 30 students to 3,000

Built for professional credibility and institutional confidence

Students produce work they can show employers. Institutions get defensible outcomes.

Course Structure: Six Studios

Project-based learning with hands-on deliverables—students build, test, and deploy real work.

1

Foundations: AI Systems & Failure Modes

Understanding capabilities, limitations, hallucinations, bias, and when AI breaks.

2

Workflow Design: From Task → System

Designing repeatable workflows with goals, constraints, success criteria, and revision loops.

3

Build Studio: Create a Real Deliverable

Students choose a track and create a professional artifact using AI workflows.

Choose Your Track:

Web page/app prototype Automation system Research product Data analysis Policy brief
4

Reliability Studio: Test, Verify, Measure

Building evaluation plans, running test cases, verifying claims, and documenting confidence levels.

5

Deployment Studio: Policy, Privacy, Governance

Responsible use practices, institutional policies, risk management, and disclosure norms.

6

Capstone Portfolio + Oral Defense

Students curate their best work with complete documentation and present their process, findings, and evidence.

Each studio is hands-on and deliverable-focused. Students don't just learn about AI—they build, test, verify, and present real work with professional documentation.

Example Labs (Make It Tangible)

See what students actually produce—professional artifacts with full process documentation.

Module 4

Reliability Lab

Students build a test plan, run variants, score outputs against defined criteria—then write a reliability report documenting what worked and what failed.

Student Artifacts Produced:

Test plan with 3–5 test cases
Results table (pass/fail + notes)
Failure mode analysis
Reliability score + justification
Module 3

Source Trace Lab

Students create a claim ledger mapping every factual statement to primary sources, label confidence levels (High/Medium/Low), and identify claims that cannot be verified.

Student Artifacts Produced:

Claim ledger (table format)
Linked citations for each claim
Confidence labels + reasoning
Verification reflection (1 paragraph)
Module 8

Policy Memo Lab

Students write an acceptable-use policy for a real organization scenario (university department, startup, nonprofit), including stakeholder analysis, risk assessment, and governance recommendations.

Student Artifacts Produced:

Stakeholder analysis
Risk/benefit assessment
Policy memo (2–3 pages)
Implementation + monitoring plan

Every lab includes rubrics, templates, and example artifacts so students know exactly what's expected.

Implementation & Support

Reduce friction—get from partnership to first class in under 2 hours.

"Plug-and-Play" Setup

Complete Materials Package

Syllabus, slides, labs, rubrics, templates—everything ready to use

LMS-Ready Files

Import to Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle with one click

Teacher Guide

Week-by-week walkthrough with instructional strategies and pacing guidance

Policy Pack

Sample acceptable-use policies your institution can adopt

Partnership Support

Instructor Onboarding

60–90 minute training session + Q&A (virtual or on-site)

Ongoing Support

Email/chat access during semester + quarterly Q&A sessions

Optional: PD Workshop

Half-day faculty development workshop for department-wide adoption

Optional: Customization

Adapt materials to your institution's branding or discipline needs

Total implementation time: Under 2 hours from onboarding to first class.
We handle curriculum development—you focus on teaching.

Preview Pack

See the Complete Course Materials

Request access to watermarked sample materials—see exactly what you're getting.

What's in the Preview Pack

Sample syllabus + weekly schedule
Module 1 overview (complete unit)
One full lab + rubric (Reliability Lab)
Process log template
Verification checklist template
Evaluation plan template
Capstone portfolio requirements
Sample oral check sheet

Materials are watermarked for preview only. Full access provided upon partnership agreement.

Request Preview Access

We'll send materials within 1 business day. No spam—just the preview pack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about implementation and scalability

Still Have Questions?

Let's discuss how this course fits your institution's needs and explore partnership opportunities.