Thu, Aug 6, 2026 9:00 AM–1:00 PM ET · In person or online
View class & enroll Practical AI course for beginners
AI for Beginners
Build practical AI skills you can use right away.
Learn practical AI skills with live, beginner-friendly guidance. Northeast Tennessee residents attend at no cost through the State of Tennessee DSEW Grant.
See class dates Each scheduled class has its own enrollment page.
Class calendar
Choose a class date
Move month by month to see every scheduled AI for Beginners class. Open dates lead to their own enrollment page.
January 2027
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Upcoming class dates
1 currently openWhat to bring. What you’ll get. What you’ll be able to do.
Everything you need to know before you arrive and what you can expect to leave with.
What you’ll need
- A laptop that can access the internet.
- No prior AI experience is required.
- Being signed into a free ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude account is helpful but not required.
What you’ll get
- Verified skill badges you can share.
- Access to AI you can keep working with and learning from.
- Training materials, walkthroughs, and instructions to use after class.
What you’ll be able to do
Work fluently with AI to create, write, organize, design, solve problems, and handle many other practical tasks.
Verified credentials
Learn it. Prove it. Share it.
Complete practical activities during class to earn eight verified skill badges you can share on LinkedIn and include on your résumé.
AI for Beginners CertificateYour course certificate accompanies the individual verified skill badges.
AI
What is AI?
Understand what AI can do and where it fits.
WRITE
Write with AI
Create and improve useful written work.
SEARCH
Research Anything
Find, organize, and verify information.
DOCS
Work With Documents
Understand and transform document content.
PLAN
Plan Something
Turn goals into practical next steps.
ANALYZE
Analyze and Get Answers
Examine information and explain what it means.
VISUAL
Visual Creation
Turn ideas into clear visual concepts.
TOOLKIT
Build Your Toolkit
Leave with a repeatable way to keep working.
Four hours built around doing
No long lecture and no multi-week bootcamp. Joe guides you through practical activities, feedback, and verified skill checks.
Understand the tools
Learn what modern AI tools do, where they help, and how to use them responsibly.
Know when AI is useful and when human judgment still matters.Practice real tasks
Work through writing, research, document, planning, analysis, and visual exercises.
Use clear methods you can repeat after class.Get live guidance
Ask questions and improve your work with support from Joe during the session.
Correct mistakes while you practice instead of guessing later.Earn your credentials
Complete the skill activities and verify what you can do.
Leave with eight badges and an AI for Beginners certificate.Meet your instructor
Joe McKenna
Founder and CEO, CloudWise Academy
Joe teaches beginner-friendly AI classes that turn confusing technology into practical skills. He focuses on clear explanations, hands-on work, and helping every learner leave knowing what to do next.
Real learners. Practical work.
CloudWise classes are built around live help, hands-on participation, earned skills, and visible progress.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior computer or AI skills to join?+
No. This class is designed for true beginners and everything is explained step by step.
When is the next class?+
Use the course calendar on this page to see every scheduled date and open its enrollment page.
Can I attend online?+
Yes. You can attend in person or online and choose your format during registration.
Is the full $720 tuition covered?+
Yes. The State of Tennessee DSEW Grant pays the full $720 tuition for Northeast Tennessee residents.
What will I earn?+
You can earn eight verified skill badges plus an AI for Beginners course certificate.
Can I share the badges?+
Yes. The verified skill badges are designed to be shared on LinkedIn and included on your résumé.
What should I bring?+
Bring a laptop and a willingness to practice. We will guide you through the activities during class.