The tools change every six months. The understanding doesn’t.
How AI actually works, why it fails, and what to trust. We focus on the mental models and conceptual foundations that hold regardless of which tools you’re using — so you’re never behind, even as the landscape shifts. You’ll also leave being better at using AI right now.
“Most useful for me was the lived experience of prompt design; especially considering context cues.”
Course Participant
“Would I recommend the course? Yes, absolutely — great blend of knowledge and a good practical way into LLMs.”
Course Participant
Most people have taught themselves AI through trial and error. That works until it doesn’t — you hit a wall you can’t diagnose, or a new model drops and you’re back to guessing. The difference between picking things up as you go and having genuine foundations is the difference between keeping up and falling behind every cycle. This course gives you the conceptual understanding underneath: how AI actually works, why it hallucinates, what you’re sharing and where it goes, and how to communicate with AI effectively. The tools will keep changing. These foundations won’t.
Built for
- Teams building consistent AI capability — not just individual experiments
- Professionals who use AI but want to close the gaps they can feel
- Government agencies and corporates establishing responsible AI practices
- Anyone who wants structured foundations before moving to strategic methodology
Not the right fit if...
- People who already have strong prompt engineering, context engineering, and responsible AI habits (see Foundations to Fluency)
- Those seeking domain-specific applications (see AI for Investment)
Clear mental model of AI
Understand what AI is, how it works, and why it sometimes gets things wrong.
Prompt & context engineering
Write effective prompts, shape what AI has to work with, and get useful results.
Ethics, privacy & safety
Spot hallucinations, understand bias, know what you're sharing with AI and where it goes, and calibrate when to trust AI and when not to.
- What is AI? What are LLMs? How do they actually work?
- AI is probabilistic, not deterministic — why it sometimes gets things wrong
- How AI is changing the way we work — individually and in teams
- Conceptual understanding: enough to orient, not to overwhelm
Anthea Roberts
Founder & CEO, Dragonfly Thinking
Professor at ANU, Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School. Built the Dragonfly analytical methodology.
Miranda Forsyth
Co-Founder & Director, Dragonfly Thinking
Interdisciplinary socio-legal professor at ANU. Leads Dragonfly Learning's executive education approach.
Sam Barton
AI Operations & Development, Dragonfly Thinking
Operations lead with expertise in complex systems science. Cross-functional experience in product, operations, and strategy.
Linda Phompak
Product Manager & Designer, Dragonfly Thinking
Interdisciplinary designer with experience in enterprise technology, agencies, startups, and government.
In person
~3 hoursHalf-day session — the essentials in a single in-person session.
- Core concepts and mental models
- Live demonstrations
- Certificate of completion
Online
2 × 1.5 hoursTwo focused sessions delivered online with time to absorb between them.
- All topics covered in depth
- Hands-on exercises
- Certificate of completion
| Format | Individual | Group (≤20) |
|---|---|---|
| Online (2 × 1.5hr) | $695 | $10,000 |
All prices AUD, ex GST. Enterprise invoicing and purchase orders supported.
Larger groups? Get in touchThe learning stack
Build genuine AI foundations — whether you're starting out or closing gaps. Recommended before Foundations to Fluency.