Horticulture and Sustainable Landscape Design Course Updates for 2024-2025

CTeLearning is proud to introduce the AI for the Workplace Course and Certificate . The landscape of work is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and many individuals are struggling to keep up. AI is fundamentally transforming how we work. In the early days of computer science, proficiency in coding was essential to accomplish tasks. As technology advanced, applications emerged that allowed users to perform complex calculations without needing to write code, exemplified by tools like VisiCalc (the first commercially available spreadsheet). Today, we are witnessing a similar shift. Just a year or two ago, interacting with AI often required technical knowledge to program the system. Now, AI tools enable users to communicate in natural language, making them more accessible. However, to maximize the effectiveness of these tools, individuals must excel in communication. Understanding how to craft effective prompts and engage in “prompt engineering” is crucial for guiding AI to deliver desired outcomes. Ultimately, the quality of your communication will determine your success with these technologies. Created in partnership with Web Professionals Global , the industry association for all things web, this course and certification prepares students for the future. Certificate Overview This course and certificate program does not focus on coding the next AI system. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of communication skills to achieve optimal results. For example, an entrepreneur may use AI to conduct a SWOT analysis of their business. In agribusiness, professionals might employ AI to analyze new regulations. An automotive technician could use AI to generate a resume and cover letter tailored to their ideal job. Marketers might leverage AI to brainstorm and organize strategies for new clients. Teachers can utilize AI to develop grading rubrics for project-based learning activities. Landscape designers may consult AI for plant selections in challenging environments. Construction contractors might rely on AI to create promotional materials as they pursue new certifications. Web designers can use AI to refine messaging for specific target audiences, while animators and game designers can enhance their creative processes with AI-generated script concepts and character backstory. Success in the workplace has always required a combination of skills. Those with strong technical abilities are consistently in demand, but individuals who possess both technical and soft skills often ascend to leadership positions. The integration of AI into professional settings represents a new blend of these competencies, akin to coding but utilizing natural language to instruct AI on its tasks. As the demand for effective communication with AI tools continues to rise, the AI for the Workplace Course and Certificate stands at the forefront of this transformation. This credential is designed to empower professionals across various industries and job levels to harness the full potential of AI. It is grounded in the latest research and offers tailored learning paths. Participants will not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical skills in effective AI interaction. Upon completion, graduates will be well-equipped to leverage their new skills and certification in their chosen career paths. Our course includes a tool called PromptScout, which gives your students access to a database of 5,360 editable prompts across 63 different industries. They can find, edit, and use these prompts in their favorite AI tool to generate any solution they need, offering students a firsthand look at how AI can support them in any career pathway. This is a micro-credential course that can be completed in just over five hours of class time, making it an ideal enhancement to any career course or program of study. No prior experience with AI is needed for either the facilitator or the student. The self-directed learning is auto-graded and requires little to no prep time, and facilitator training is provided free of charge. AI should primarily be viewed as a tool. For most of us, the future lies in leveraging AI to enhance productivity, foster creativity, and drive innovation across all aspects of our careers. While there is a notable push to train AI programmers to develop the next generation of AI systems, 99% of the broader workplace / work world/ jobs needs individuals who can seamlessly integrate AI tools into their workflows, utilizing these powerful capabilities to accelerate their work. As employers seek to hire top talent, they are increasingly looking for individuals who can work quickly, efficiently, and accurately. Just as you would not trust a mechanic with your Tesla if their only tool was a sledgehammer, or allow a heart surgeon to operate on a loved one with only a saw, it is essential to equip yourself with the right skills and tools to thrive in today’s evolving workplace. The AI for the Workplace Certificate prepares learners to succeed in the modern world of AI, no matter what industry they are in. Learn More Reach out to us today to find out more about our brand new AI for the Workplace Course and Certificate by clicking here or calling us at 913-764-4272.

Here at CTeLearning we are always seeking new ways to help teachers ensure their students succeed, both in the classroom and the real world. It is also the way we show that we are not trying to replace them with software and AI tools. Today, we are excited to introduce a new AI tool called EMILIA that will help students improve their communication skills. Over the next few weeks, EMILIA will be rolled out in all of our courses including our most popular ones– Web Design , Web and Mobile Video Game Design , and Web and Computer Animation . Background As many of our teachers know, we have been integrating Virtual Internship/Work-Based Experiences into our courses for over 20 years. We have continued to hone these products and expand them. We have fun creating immersive experiences that reinforce the technical skills the students are learning and give them the chance to apply the soft skills they will need in their future careers. However, we always had a single frustration: no matter how hard we tried, we were never able to give the students (interns) the chance to have an authentic exchange with their “client.” That all changed recently, as we deployed EMILIA , an AI tool that allows your students to have a chat and ask questions of their client. Through the power of AI, students will be able to interact with their client by asking questions and receiving answers to better understand the client and project–just like the way it works in the real world. EMILIA Overview EMILIA is being rolled out in the Virtual Internship feature of our courses. The Virtual Internship, also referred to as the Practicum, allows students to get an idea of what it is like to work in the professional world by simulating the experience of working with a client as, for example, a new web designer. For example, students in the Web Design course are tasked with creating a website for a client. In order to build the best possible website for the client, students need to understand client needs, desires, interests and more. The tool allows students to ask questions and receive responses from the client through email, enabling an ongoing dialogue that helps the student better understand the client and improve the website they have been tasked with creating. Not only does EMILIA allow students to interact with the client in real time, but it also provides them with immediate feedback on their communication skills. When students email their client, they will receive a score out of 10 that assesses their written communication as well as offers pointers for improvement. Criteria for the grade include spelling, grammar, punctuation, overall professionalism and more. Teachers also receive reports for each student based on their communications. EMILIA is integrated into the project-based learning (PBL), which means that the students can engage with their simulated clients as part of the natural flow of the project and in context with their work–just like how it works in the real-world. By incorporating EMILIA we are giving the students enhanced opportunities to learn what it is like to “meet” a client, understand their goals and pain points, and create a better product for them. This equips students with the soft skills that are so essential in today’s economy and prepares them for their futures–whether they enter the workforce directly after high school or pursue higher education. Our teachers who have seen EMILIA in action expressed enthusiasm for how it can help improve the learning experience for students and free up time for teachers. We have to be more clever to engage today’s learner. Integrating EMILIA gives us the opportunity to offer an open, genuine conversation with the client that is curated and helps to keep students and their projects pointed in the right direction. Through the process, students build a portfolio and a personal story of real world success they can share with teachers, parents, friends and future employers. We are incorporating more AI tools in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Every teacher faces challenges in providing students with real work-based learning opportunities. At the same time, live internships are harder to secure, and teachers are dealing with larger class sizes and increased preparation demands. Our goal is to ensure that our project-based learning curricula make things easier for teachers. One great advantage our teachers love is the Virtual Internship approach, which provides career readiness education through simulated work-based experiences. This allows every student, regardless of local industry support, the opportunity to have an internship, test drive a career pathway and experience the thrill of their future. Your School Could Be Next Interested in learning more about how we are harnessing the power of AI to improve STEM education with tools like EMILIA ? Click here or call us at 913-764-4272 to schedule a free 20-minute demo of any of our courses and certifications.