Prompt Engineering Foundations
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Prompt Engineering Foundations
This course is part of Prompt Engineering Masterclass - From Beginner to Advanced Specialization
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What you'll learn
Gain hands-on experience in prompt engineering and its applications in AI.
Set up local Python environments and API keys for interacting with AI models.
Learn how to make API calls and manage outputs effectively for real-time responses.
Build AI-powered tools and command-line interfaces using modern libraries and frameworks.
Skills you'll gain
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March 2026
5 assignments
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There are 4 modules in this course
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A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this comprehensive course, you will gain a solid foundation in prompt engineering, learning how to work with large language models (LLMs) effectively. You'll explore the power of prompt engineering and how to build AI-powered tools by interacting with APIs such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Through real-world examples and hands-on projects, this course will help you master the art of developing prompts that maximize the capabilities of AI models. As you move through the course, you will be guided step by step through key concepts, including setting up development environments, making your first API calls, and managing API costs. You will also delve into advanced techniques for controlling output, managing authentication, and optimizing large language models for real-time applications. Each section is designed to build your skills progressively, ensuring that you gain the practical experience needed to excel. The course culminates in a project where you will apply what youβve learned by creating your own AI-powered tools using the skills and knowledge gained throughout the course. By the end of the course, you will have built the foundation for an AI toolbox and will have the expertise to use prompt engineering in your own projects. This course is ideal for anyone interested in learning prompt engineering, whether you're an aspiring AI developer, a data scientist, or someone who wants to gain hands-on experience in using APIs for AI-driven applications. It requires a basic understanding of programming but is accessible to beginners with a technical background. By the end of the course, you will be able to set up your development environment, make API calls, use the OpenAI Python library, build command-line interfaces, and create AI-powered tools using best practices.
In this module, we will introduce you to the course and its objectives, exploring the significance of prompt engineering skills in AI projects. You'll get a glimpse of the course structure and key projects, with insights into how these will enhance your ability to work with LLMs. We will also set expectations for the practical application of the concepts you'll learn.
What's included
6 videos2 readings
6 videosβ’Total 21 minutes
- Welcome and Course Overviewβ’4 minutes
- The Value of Prompt Engineering Skillsβ’3 minutes
- Setting Expectationsβ’3 minutes
- Introducing the Course Projectβ’3 minutes
- Exploring the Project Modulesβ’4 minutes
- Overview of OpenAI API Costsβ’4 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 20 minutes
- Introduction to the Course 'Prompt Engineering Foundations'β’10 minutes
- Full Specialization Resourcesβ’10 minutes
In this module, we will guide you through setting up your development environment, ensuring you're ready to work with prompt engineering tools and APIs. You'll configure your local Python environment, set up OpenAI and Anthropic accounts, and generate API keys to start making API calls to LLMs.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videosβ’Total 12 minutes
- Section Overviewβ’1 minute
- Configuring Your Local Python Environmentβ’3 minutes
- Setting Up Your OpenAI Account and Keysβ’5 minutes
- Setting Up Your Anthropic Account and Keysβ’3 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Setting Up Your Development Environment - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will provide a hands-on crash course in using the OpenAI Python library, which will serve as the foundation for interacting with language models. You'll learn how to securely manage API keys, make your first API calls, and process API responses. Additionally, we'll cover simplifying API interactions with LiteLLM and managing model parameters to control outputs.
What's included
11 videos1 assignment
11 videosβ’Total 101 minutes
- Section Overviewβ’3 minutes
- Environment Setupβ’6 minutes
- Managing API Authentication Securelyβ’8 minutes
- Making Your First API Call to a Chat Modelβ’10 minutes
- Simplifying LLM Calls with LiteLLMβ’10 minutes
- Connecting to Anthropic Models via LiteLLMβ’10 minutes
- Understanding and Parsing the API Responseβ’12 minutes
- Controlling Creativity and Length with Temperature and max_tokensβ’10 minutes
- Fine-Tuning Output with stop, n, and response_formatβ’12 minutes
- Implementing Real-Time Responses with Streamingβ’9 minutes
- How to Run Large Language Models Locally with Ollamaβ’11 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- OpenAI Python Library Crash Course - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will lay the groundwork for your first AI-powered project. You'll learn how to set up the project directory, implement the basic structure, and create a simple AI-powered "Hello World" feature. We'll also guide you through writing initial unit tests to ensure functionality and robustness.
What's included
6 videos1 reading3 assignments
6 videosβ’Total 46 minutes
- Module Overview and Goalsβ’1 minute
- Creating the Initial Project Structureβ’11 minutes
- A Guided Tour of the Starter Codeβ’6 minutes
- Building the Command-Line Interface with Clickβ’12 minutes
- Implementing an AI-Powered "Hello World"β’8 minutes
- Writing Your First Test for the AI Featureβ’8 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Conclusion to the Course 'Prompt Engineering Foundations'β’10 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 90 minutes
- Project Module #1: Building the AI Toolbox Foundation - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
- Full Course Assessmentβ’60 minutes
- Full Course Practice Assessmentβ’15 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
Prompt Engineering is the practice of designing inputs (prompts) to guide large language models (LLMs) in generating accurate and useful outputs. It is essential because it allows developers to fine-tune AI interactions, improving model performance in various tasks. With AI becoming increasingly integrated into applications, having strong prompt engineering skills ensures that models are leveraged effectively for real-world use cases.
The "Prompt Engineering Foundations" course covers the basic principles of prompt engineering, focusing on practical skills for working with AI models. It provides a structured approach to learning the core concepts, including API interactions, model configurations, and project-based application of prompt engineering. The course includes practical exercises such as building AI tools and writing tests for AI features, ensuring you can apply your knowledge immediately.
After completing this course, you will be proficient in designing effective prompts and interacting with APIs from major AI models like OpenAI and Anthropic. Youβll have hands-on experience in building simple AI-powered tools, like a basic "Hello World" feature, and be capable of implementing AI tools with proper project structure and testing. This will enable you to apply prompt engineering in your personal projects or professional work.
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