Ziplines
View company profile →
Mixed Experience: Solid Foundations, But Missed Opportunities
I recently completed the AI Prompting course offered online through NJIT. Overall, the course had some well-structured content and promising areas of focus, but it fell short in several key aspects that impacted the learning experience. What Worked Well: Modules 2 and 3 stood out for their clear organization and engaging teaching style. These sessions felt intentional and well-designed, offering useful insights into prompting frameworks and practical application techniques. The structure of these modules made it easier to stay engaged and absorb the material. Areas for Improvement: Unfortunately, Modules 1 and 4 felt significantly less structured—more like unscripted rambling than targeted instruction. Additionally, the course leaned heavily on cutting and pasting content into slide decks, which felt repetitive and underwhelming given the course price. I expected more rigor and polish from a program associated with a university like NJIT. Timing also posed challenges. The weekly live sessions often lagged behind the current module, which disrupted the momentum of the course. For example, the final and most anticipated module—Data Analysis and Visualization—never had a live session at all. As someone who completed all assignments promptly and was eager to dive deeper into this topic, this was particularly disappointing. Support was also inconsistent. Grades were not returned in a timely manner, and there were delays in communication from the student support team. While I understand unforeseen circumstances can arise, I expected the institution (Zipline or NJIT) to have backup coverage in place. Takeaways: On the positive side, the course validated how much I’ve already learned through self-study. It also provided a formal certificate that reflects my knowledge of AI prompting. However, for learners looking to go deeper into applied areas like data analysis and visualization, I would recommend seeking more specialized programs. For instance, Wharton's dedicated six-month course in that domain—although significantly more expensive—seems more aligned with those goals. Recommendation: I’d recommend this course for individuals who are brand new to AI prompting and looking for a general introduction. It may not be the best fit for those with prior experience or looking for advanced or professionally oriented instruction.