AI Overview and Intro to Prompt Engineering

Description

Generative AI is increasingly part of day-to-day work in the public service, yet many public servants are unsure how to use these tools effectively while meeting the standards of responsibility, accountability, and judgment expected in government.

This half-day virtual workshop provides a clear, practical introduction to the responsible use of generative AI in a public-sector context.

Participants will explore how tools such as Microsoft Copilot can support common public-sector tasks, including research, drafting, analysis, and communication. The focus is on understanding how to work with AI in a way that complements professional expertise.

The session is designed around everyday public-sector work, including research, writing briefing notes and decks, as well as delivering oral briefings. These playbooks illustrate how to give effective direction and how to review and refine outputs using professional judgment.

Participants will also learn a simple, practical decision framework for responsible use, based on assessing risk and the nature of the task. This framework helps participants decide when, and when not, to use AI.

By the end of the session, participants will have a stronger understanding of how generative AI works, clearer judgment about when and how to use it, and practical frameworks they can apply immediately in their roles.

 Want a deeper dive? Join the full-day in-person session here.

You Will Learn:

• How generative AI works: Gain a clear, non-technical understanding of how tools like Microsoft Copilot generate content, respond to prompts, and learn from user inputs.
• Best practices for public-sector use: Learn how to use AI responsibly and ethically in the public service, aligning with standards of accountability, transparency, and professionalism.
• Prompt engineering essentials: Discover how to write effective prompts that produce accurate, relevant, and useful results for public-sector tasks like research, drafting, and analysis.
• Practical applications: Explore AI-supported workflows for drafting briefing notes, preparing decks, conducting research, and refining communications.
• Playbooks for everyday tasks: Work through examples that demonstrate how to give AI clear direction and how to review and refine outputs using professional judgment.
• A simple decision-making framework: Use a practical tool to assess when, and when not, to use generative AI—based on risk, context, and task type.
• Confidence with AI tools: Leave with greater confidence and competence to start using generative AI tools effectively and responsibly in your day-to-day work.

Duration

• Half-day virtual session (3 hours) with strategic breaks designed to maximize your learning and application potential.

Space is limited to allow active engagement. Secure your place now by clicking the registration button below!

Special Offers

Take advantage of these exclusive discounts available when registering for IOG courses:

1. Group Course Discount: Register 3 or more colleagues together for the same course and receive 10% off your total registration fee.  
   Learning together builds team capacity—and helps you save on training costs.
2. Individual Bundle Discount: Register as an individual for 3 or more courses at the same time and save 10% on your total registration fee.
   Advance your professional development while maximizing value.

Facilitators

John Stroud is a strategic adviser to leaders on linking people with technology. His vision opens people’s minds to new possibilities, and he challenges them to consider creative options. People turn to John for plainspoken, easy-to-understand explanations.

John is a certified OpenExO consultant in exponential technologies. Prior to launching AI Guides, John served as Vice President, Strategy at a federal crown corporation ($600M budget and 8000+ workforce) with responsibilities for Governance, Human Resources, Communications, Legal, Performance Measurement and Risk.

John obtained his Masters of Philosophy from Oxford, his law degree and Masters of Public Administration from the University of Victoria, and his BA from the University of Toronto. He also obtained his ICD.D for completing the Director’s Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors.