Make AI Work for You: A Practical Guide to Today’s AI Assistants
This hands-on class helps you understand the different AI helpers available today. We explore ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and show what each one is good at. You’ll learn how to use these tools for real-life tasks like writing emails, planning, research, creating ideas, data analysis, and organising information. By the end, you’ll know which AI assistant suits you and how to use it confidently.
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Mon 09 Feb
- TEC-subsidised course fee for qualifying learners $45.00 incl. GST
- $85.00 incl. GST
Sessions
Session 1
Mon 09 Feb 19:00 - Mon 09 Feb 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 2
Mon 16 Feb 19:00 - Mon 16 Feb 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 3
Mon 23 Feb 19:00 - Mon 23 Feb 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 4
Mon 02 Mar 19:00 - Mon 02 Mar 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here. -
Mon 04 May
- TEC-subsidised course fee for qualifying learners $45.00 incl. GST
- $85.00 incl. GST
Sessions
Session 1
Mon 04 May 19:00 - Mon 04 May 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 2
Mon 11 May 19:00 - Mon 11 May 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 3
Mon 18 May 19:00 - Mon 18 May 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 4
Mon 25 May 19:00 - Mon 25 May 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here. -
Mon 27 Jul
- TEC-subsidised course fee for qualifying learners $45.00 incl. GST
- $85.00 incl. GST
Sessions
Session 1
Mon 27 Jul 19:00 - Mon 27 Jul 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 2
Mon 03 Aug 19:00 - Mon 03 Aug 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 3
Mon 10 Aug 19:00 - Mon 10 Aug 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 4
Mon 17 Aug 19:00 - Mon 17 Aug 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here.
Description
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) course fee subsidy
This course offers a course fee subsidy through funding from the TEC for:
- NZ citizens;
- Those who hold a residency-class visa;
- Individuals granted refugee status;
- In some cases spouses of NZ citizens and permanent migrants may also qualify - please contact the office to enquire.
Conditions:
- Registrants must be aged 16 years or older.
- Registrants must not be currently enrolled at a secondary school.
- You should attend at least 80% of your classes to qualify for a fee subsidy.
- We need to collect extra information such as age, ethnicity, educational achievement and gender for statistical purposes.
- You must provide evidence of NZ citizenship, residency or refugee status.
If you are unable to meet these conditions, please contact the office to discuss your situation.
About the course
This hands-on class helps you understand the different AI helpers available today. We explore ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and show what each one is good at. You’ll learn how to use these tools for real-life tasks like writing emails, planning, research, creating ideas, data analysis, and organising information. By the end, you’ll know which AI assistant suits you and how to use it confidently.
Prerequisite
You'll get the most from this course if you're comfortable with basic computer tasks like web browsing, creating accounts, copy-and-paste, and using email.
What to bring
A laptop is recommended so you have the option to use some of your own files during the exercises. If you don’t have a laptop, there will be desktop computers in the classroom for you to use.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the differences between the top AI assistants and what it is good at
- Know which assistant to use for what you need
- Use simple, clear prompts to get better results
- Try real tasks across different AI tools and compare the results
- Build a small “AI toolkit” that fits your daily needs
Who should attend
- Anyone who has tried AI before and wants to get better at it
- Busy adults who want AI to help with everyday tasks
- Professionals wanting practical skills for work
- Small business owners
- Parents, retirees, community learners
About your tutor
Jam Mayer is an AI consultant and educator with two decades of experience in digital strategy. She trains teams and business owners in practical AI automation and workflow design. Jam doesn't just teach AI. She builds with it, creating multi-agent workflows, vibe-coded applications and automation systems for clients. Her teaching style accommodates varied learning styles.
