USF launches free online course designed for AI skill building

By Althea Johnson, University Communications and Marketing

The University of South Florida is offering a new, free microcourse focused on artificial intelligence. Designed for individuals with no technical background, the short-form program provides practical, flexible and self-paced opportunities for professionals, educators and the general public to build confidence and skills in incorporating AI into their work and daily lives.

AI Whisperer: A Microcourse in Crafting Prompts for Generative AI helps learners discover how to select the right AI tools, craft effective prompts and generate high-quality outputs for use in reports, presentations and visuals.

• Online, self-paced and free, with an optional $39 digital badge available upon successful completion
• Available through Feb. 28, 2026
• Approximately three-four hours to complete

"The AI Whisperer microcourse was developed as a direct result of feedback from the community," said Christine Brown, associate vice president of USF Innovative Education. "Our prior microcourses were very popular and post-session feedback showed that participants craved practical, hands-on experience with prompting."

According to the faculty experts who led the course development, prompting is one of the biggest challenges for AI beginners.

"We heard from learners across industries and backgrounds that they wanted more applied, step-by-step strategies for working with AI tools," said John Licato, associate professor in the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. "We created the AI Whisperer microcourse to meet that need by focusing on real-world practice and helping participants gain the confidence to design effective prompts that generate quality results."

GenAI in Action: Impact and Possibilities is a microcourse that first launched in 2023 with more than 12,000 worldwide participants. Now, it's being re-released after a version 2.0 attracted thousands of participants earlier this year. The latest version includes practice assessments, more flexible course progression and curated articles. Participants gain foundational knowledge about GenAI and its current role in multiple disciplines such as writing, research, teaching and learning, along with the tech industry.

• Online, self-paced and free, with an optional $39 digital badge available upon successful completion
• Available through Jan. 11, 2026
• Approximately six hours to complete
• Learners who enrolled earlier this year but did not finish can re-enroll to complete the course and earn the optional badge

The courses were created by USF's Innovative Education, in collaboration with faculty experts from the USF College of Education and the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. The Bellini College, which launched this fall, is the first named college in the nation devoted to AI and cybersecurity together.

Expanding access to AI skill building is part of USF's commitment to supporting the community. "These microcourses showcase the expertise of our faculty while giving individuals practical, flexible ways to build confidence with artificial intelligence," Brown said.

Registration for both microcourses, as well as a variety of other programs, is available through the USF Office of Microcredentials.