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Introducing FutureReady! Artificial Intelligence Training

Overview

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday work across sectors, including post-secondary education. At Ontario Tech, we are taking a thoughtful, responsible and human-centred approach to helping employees understand AI and use approved tools safely and effectively. 

Future Ready! Artificial Intelligence Training is designed to help Ontario Tech employees build foundational AI literacy and understand how AI can be used safely, responsibly and effectively in everyday work.

Whether you are just getting started or looking to deepen your skills, this training provides a clear, practical foundation and real-world applications tailored to roles in higher education. 

The program will continue to evolve as new modules, tools, guidance and resources become available.

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Why this training matters

AI tools can help support many everyday tasks, but at the same time, these tools have limitations and risks. AI-generated information may be inaccurate, biased or inappropriate for certain uses. Employees need to understand how to use these tools responsibly, while remaining accountable for decisions and final outputs and also protecting personal and institutional information. , and ensure that people remain accountable for decisions and final outputs.

This training is intended to help employees build confidence while using AI with care, judgment and accountability.

What you’ll learn

The AI Training program consists of learning modules that develop gradually, starting with basic concepts and moving toward hands-on practice. 

  • Generative AI basics

    In the Generative AI basics course you will: 

    • Learn foundational knowledge about generative AI including what it is and how it works.
    • Explore common tools and platforms used in higher education.
    • Learn where AI can add value in your role.
    • Develop confidence using AI in everyday tasks.
    • Recognize key limitations, risks and responsibilities when using AI-generated outputs.
  • Prompting and responsible use

    In the Prompting and responsible use course you will learn:

     

    • Understand responsible and appropriate use of AI tools.
    • Write effective prompts to generate useful outputs.
    • Apply structured prompting approaches, such as task, context and tone.
    • Recognize privacy, data security and ethical considerations.
    • Review and validate AI-generated outputs before using or sharing them.
  • Using AI in Software

    Using AI in Software

    Apply AI directly in the tools you already use.

    You will:

    • Use AI features within familiar applications, such as Outlook, Word and Teams, where available and appropriate.
    • Explore Gemini integrations, where available and appropriate.
    • Streamline common tasks such as drafting, summarizing, organizing and analyzing content.
    • Improve productivity and support more efficient workflows.
    • Translate AI capabilities into real workplace scenarios.
    •  
  • Agentic AI Basics

    Explore the next evolution of AI tools.

    You will:

    • Understand what agentic AI is and how it differs from basic generative AI.
    • Learn how AI agents can support multi-step tasks.
    • Identify opportunities and risks related to agent-based workflows.
    • Build awareness of emerging AI capabilities and future applications.

Who this is for

This training is designed for Ontario Tech employees across a range of roles and experience levels.

  • No prior AI knowledge is required.
  • The training is applicable across administrative, academic, professional and leadership roles.
  • The modules are flexible and self-paced.
  • Employees can complete individual modules or follow the full learning pathway as more modules become available.

Time commitment

Each module is designed to be concise, practical and self-paced. Modules can be completed individually or as part of the full learning series, depending on your needs and schedule.

GAI Basics is estimated to take 20 - 30 minutes to complete.

A responsible approach to AI

Ontario Tech’s approach to AI training is grounded in responsible use, privacy and security, and human accountability.

AI can support work, but it should not replace human judgment. Employees are expected to review, validate and take responsibility for final outputs.

Before recommending AI tools for university work, the university considers factors such as privacy, data protection, security, vendor terms, procurement requirements, institutional risk, intellectual property, accessibility, functionality and appropriate safeguards.

Different AI tools and license types may have different privacy, data protection, IP and vendor responsibility terms. Employees should follow university guidance and use approved or university-supported tools and environments for university work.

Resources: AI Innovation with Integrity

Approved tools and platform information

For university work, employees should use approved or university-supported AI tools and environments.

Current training will include reference to tools such as Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini in approved university-supported environments, where appropriate. Employees should ensure they are signed in with their Ontario Tech University ID when using approved enterprise environments so that university privacy and security protections are in place.

Other AI systems may become available or may be requested for review over time. If a tool is not listed as approved or university-supported, employees should not use it with personal, confidential or sensitive university information. Proposed AI systems may require privacy, security, procurement and AI assessment before use.

For details about approved platforms, access, tool availability and technical guidance, visit:

[Link to ITS AI platform information page]

itservices@ontariotechu.ca or accessandprivacy@ontariotechu.ca

What if my tool is not listed?

AI tools need to be reviewed before they are recommended for university work. Reviews may consider privacy, data protection, security, procurement, intellectual property, vendor terms, accessibility, functionality and whether university data could be used to train AI models.

If a tool is not listed, it does not mean it can never be used; it means it has not yet been reviewed or approved for that use. Employees should not use unapproved tools with personal, confidential or sensitive university information.

To ask about a tool or request a review, contact:

itservices@ontariotechu.ca or accessandprivacy@ontariotechu.ca

Privacy, security and PIA information

Employees should not enter personal, confidential or sensitive university information into AI tools unless they are using an approved environment and the use is appropriate.

For guidance on privacy, data protection, Privacy Impact Assessments and responsible data use, visit:

Privacy Office / accessandprivacy@ontariotechu.ca 

Learning design and module development

The AI training modules were developed with support from Faculty subject matter experts (Dr. Amanda McGreggor & Dr. Peter Lewis), Privacy, Risk, The Learning Centre, IT Services, and Human Resources.

Existing AI learning foundation

The student-facing self-paced module, created by TLC, called Coursework and GenAI: A Practical Guide to AI Literacy, was designed to help students understand how generative AI functions, evaluate when and how to use GenAI, assess the quality of AI-generated outputs, and apply practical strategies for using GenAI in academic work.

The employee training adapts this foundation for a workplace context. While the student module focuses on academic work, the employee version applies similar literacy principles to administrative and professional tasks, approved workplace tools, privacy and security expectations, responsible use, and human accountability.

Program updates and feedback

This training program will continue to evolve as new modules, tools and resources become available.

Feedback from participants will help improve the training, identify additional examples and use cases, and support future learning opportunities for Ontario Tech employees.

Surveys may be sent to participants to request their input around their experience and to inform future training modules.

Need support?

For questions about the training program, contact: hrtraining@ontariotechu.ca or jennifer.topping@ontariotechu.ca

For technical questions about platform access, contact: itservices@ontariotechu.ca

For privacy or data-use questions, contact: accessandprivacy@ontariotechu.ca

For risk reporting related to AI, contact: your unit's respective Risk Owner or ORM@ontariotechu.ca