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AI Pathfinder Foundations

AI Course + Online Community

 

Transform AI Curiosity into Thoughtful Exploration

 

Enroll Now - $49 Holiday Special

Our Focus: AI Assistants

This self-paced online course and community help you build the skills to explore five popular AI Assistants, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity, using frameworks for evaluating, using, and verifying the output of any conversational AI.

AI Course + Online Community

What’s Included

  • 6-Month Access to AI Course Plus Online Community:

    • Self-Paced Online Course with an estimated 6-8 hours of videos, readings, and guided activities
    • Private Online Learning Community for peer connection, weekly discussions, and monthly live webinars
    • Mobile-Friendly Access via web or Apple iOS and Android apps
    • Access begins the day you enroll

  • AI Pathfinder Guide Resources:

    • Downloadable resource pack with frameworks, worksheets, and templates to reference anytime
    • Curated supplementary resources, including recommended websites and links to free tutorials for deeper exploration

Enrollment Details

  • Holiday Special Pricing through December 31st: $49 $69
  • As a thank you to those who enroll now, we're offering discounted launch pricing
  • This introductory rate will increase to our regular price of $69 for future enrollments in 2026
Enroll Now - $49 Holiday Special

Your Learning Path

In about 6–8 hours, you’ll move through six modules that cover the following topics.

1️⃣ Your AI Starting Point

Recognize the AI already in your daily life. You're probably more prepared than you might think.

2️⃣ Map Your Possibilities

Explore where AI might support your personal interests, creative projects, learning, or information gathering.

3️⃣ Be SECURE

Assess AI tools for safety and trustworthiness, and set them up to better protect your privacy.

4️⃣ SMART & CLEAR Prompts

Develop communication approaches that get better results while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

5️⃣ CHECK Your AI Responses

Build skills for spotting hallucinations, identifying bias, and knowing when to seek human expertise.

6️⃣ Map Your Next Path

Bring everything together to apply what you’ve learned and plan your continued AI exploration

What You’ll Explore

Most AI training focuses on tips to use a specific AI tool. This course helps you compare several of the most common AI Assistants and provides you with practical frameworks to explore AI as it evolves, including:

  • SECURE Assessment: Review any AI Assistant across six criteria: Safety, Effectiveness, Company Practices, Usability, Risks, and Exit Strategy. The goal isn't finding the perfect tool. Spoiler: it doesn't exist! Instead, the aim is to narrow options based on what matters to you, such as privacy protection, ease of use, or specific capabilities.
  • SMART & CLEAR Prompting: Communicate effectively with AI while protecting your privacy and personal information. Most people approach AI like Google. Type a few words, hit enter, and expect magic. However, conversational AI responds based on context. The strategies shared in this course help you structure prompts that get better results without oversharing.
  • CHECK Response Evaluation: Verify the accuracy of AI responses and recognize when to question results. AI can sound completely confident even when it's wrong. This evaluation approach helps you spot hallucinations, identify bias, and recognize when you need human expertise instead.

Importantly, these frameworks work across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, and whatever AI launches in the future. You're exploring human-AI collaboration, not learning which buttons to click.

Is this learning experience right for you?

  • This AI exploration is designed for you if:

    • You're curious about AI and ready to explore with some guidance
    • You're comfortable learning apps, but you're new to AI Assistants
    • You value your privacy and want to understand boundaries before experimenting
    • You prefer more structured learning over random trial-and-error
    • You're focused on personal AI use, such as creative projects, learning, organization, or everyday problem-solving
    • You appreciate opportunities for community support and monthly live sessions as you learn

  • This course isn't the right fit if:

    • You already have extensive experience using AI Assistants and want a deep dive into a specific AI tool
    • You're looking for advanced AI prompt engineering techniques
    • You need AI training for workplace professional development
    • You’re seeking professional-level credentialed training rather than a personal, curiosity-driven experience
Enroll Now - $49 Holiday Special

Why This Course Is Needed

Most AI courses provide tool-specific information. This course encourages you to think critically about AI and its use in your life.

Tools Change Constantly

You need approaches that adapt as technology evolves.

Privacy Concerns Are Real

You need data protection strategies, not just awareness.

AI Makes Mistakes

You need techniques to spot hallucinations and other errors.

Meet Your Guide

Jennifer Maddrell, PhD | Founder, Next Path Design

I have a PhD in Instructional Design and Technology with over 20 years of experience in designing and leading online learning experiences that help adults gain confidence with new technology.

This course merges that background with my personal journey into AI to help you begin yours. This summer, I shifted my focus to AI literacy, specifically aiming to empower individuals to develop the confidence and critical thinking skills necessary to explore AI tools thoughtfully.

Full transparency: I created this course in collaboration with the same AI Assistants you’ll be exploring, and I share my journey through "Behind the Scenes" reflections in each module. You will see what worked, what didn't, and why human oversight remains crucial.

I Hope You'll Join Us!

Like most people, I was curious about AI and its implications. So, when my semester of teaching ended in this spring, I did what I always do when approaching a new topic. I dug in to explore and learn.

I analyzed AI literacy frameworks. Tested multiple AI Assistants. Studied popular YouTube channels to see what topics are valued by learners. Talked with friends, colleagues, and those interested in learning about AI about their needs and experiences.

One pattern kept emerging. Many people are curious about AI but don't know where to start.

And, here's what surprised me: The barriers beginners face aren't the ones most courses address.

Most courses focus on tool tutorials like "here are 10 ChatGPT prompts" or "how to use this feature." These tips can be very helpful if you already know which tool to trust, how to protect your privacy, and when to question AI's responses.

But what if you're just starting? Those are exactly the concepts and skills you need know first. That gap between where beginners struggle and what training actually covers led me to create this AI Pathfinder Foundations course.

Ready to Begin?

Ready to build the confidence to explore AI on your own terms? I'm excited to share this journey with you.

- Jennifer

No pressure. No jargon. Just a structured, thoughtful exploration of AI Assistants at your own pace.

Enroll Now - $49 Holiday Special

Have questions?

Check out answers to common questions, or reach out to us at [email protected]