AI Literacy Training
HIDAAbout this course
ChatGPT, Copilot, DeepL: AI tools are part of everyday work across the Helmholtz Association. The EU AI Act requires organisations like Helmholtz to train their staff in the use of AI. This course helps you use AI tools safely and purposefully in your work.
You accompany Alex, a project coordinator in health research at a Helmholtz centre. The final report is due and the centre provides an AI tool. Together with Alex, you decide at each key point: what may I feed the AI? How do I formulate a good prompt? How do I review the results?
What you will be able to do after this course
- Recognise and understand AI: You identify AI-powered applications and can distinguish them from conventional software.
- Assess opportunities: You decide where AI can meaningfully support you in your area of work.
- Communicate effectively: You formulate prompts purposefully and apply five prompting techniques to obtain useful results.
- Handle data safely: You classify information by sensitivity to decide which data you may enter into AI tools.
- Critically review results: You recognise hallucinations, bias and overconfidence in AI outputs and can review them systematically.
- Know and apply guidelines: You know the Helmholtz recommendations for the use of AI and know whom to contact with questions.
Course structure
The course consists of the following modules. All modules build on the scenario with Alex.
- Introduction: Meet Alex and her project.
- Understanding: What is AI and where do I encounter it?
- Communicating: How do I formulate good prompts?
- Entering data: What am I allowed to give the AI?
- Reviewing: Can I trust the result?
- Applying: Everything together in a typical situation.
Who is this course for?
All staff of the Helmholtz Association in science, administration, technical services and management. No prior knowledge is required.
Prerequisites
- Basic computer skills and browser use
- No prior AI knowledge required
- Approx. 45–60 minutes for the entire course (modules can be completed one at a time)
EU AI Act
The EU AI Act requires organisations that deploy AI tools to ensure a sufficient level of AI competence among their staff (article 4). Helmholtz centres are directly affected as operators of AI systems.
This course does not teach the EU AI Act itself. It provides the practical AI competence that article 4 of the regulation calls for: safe handling of data, critical review of results, knowledge of applicable guidelines. The EU AI Act distinguishes different roles and risk classes. This course is aimed at all staff who use AI tools in their everyday work. Upon completion of all modules, you will receive a certificate of participation as proof.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to complete the course in one sitting?
No. Your progress is saved. You can take a break at any time and continue where you left off.
How do I receive my certificate?
After completing all modules, you will receive your certificate of participation automatically. You can download it straight away.
Can my centre integrate the course into its own LMS?
Yes. The course is available centrally on the HIDA Online Campus and is also offered as a SCORM package.
In which languages is the course available?
German and English. Both language versions are complete and equivalent.