Self-Paced Online
Learn at your own pace through focused video lessons and practical learning activities. Our three online courses below are now available free for eligible public employees through the TDTI training portal.
Programs & Training
Practical skills.
Responsible technology.
TDTI helps people and organizations use data, technology, and AI with confidence and care. Explore free online courses for eligible public employees, or work with us on on-site and custom training for public and private sector teams.
Training for your organization
Learning that fits the work.
From individual learning to organization-wide training, we connect practical skills with responsible technology use. Our courses draw on the Institute’s research and our team’s experience across public and private sectors.
Available now
Free Online Courses
Explore the course contents below, then enroll or sign in at our training portal using your agency email. Access is subject to the portal’s public-agency eligibility and verification requirements.
AVAILABLE ONLINE · FREE FOR ELIGIBLE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Generative AI Fundamentals 101
Build practical skills for using generative AI safely and effectively at work. Learn to write clearer prompts, draft and summarize everyday work, verify results, and protect sensitive information.
Designed for: Public employees · No technical background required
Enroll / Begin Course ↗Explore Course Contents
What you will learn
- What AI is and is not
16:02 of video · Understand AI, machine learning, and generative AI; why confident answers can be wrong; and the limits of AI knowledge.
- The tools you will use
14:15 of video · Compare common tools, understand accounts and agency approvals, and match approved tools to appropriate tasks.
- Prompting fundamentals
14:02 of video · Write a clear brief, supply useful context, ask clarifying questions, and improve a draft through successive rounds.
- Everyday work tasks
12:52 of video · Practice summaries, emails, plain-language writing, and meeting notes, including Copilot in work applications.
- Checking AI output
15:35 of video · Check facts, numbers, sources, bias, and tone using a repeatable verification habit.
- Safe and responsible use
17:34 of video · Protect sensitive information and consider public records, retention, disclosure, and responses to mistakes.
- Action plan and final quiz
9:34 of video · Choose a low-risk task, write an action plan, measure results, and complete the final assessment.
Modules 1–6 include five-question quizzes (4 of 5 to pass). The final assessment has 12 questions (10 of 12 to pass). A TDTI certificate follows successful completion of the final assessment.
Watch the introduction
AVAILABLE ONLINE · FREE FOR ELIGIBLE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Cybersecurity Fundamentals 101
Learn everyday habits that protect your agency and the people you serve. Recognize phishing and scams, secure accounts and devices, handle sensitive information, and report incidents promptly.
Designed for: Public employees across agencies and departments
Enroll / Begin Course ↗Explore Course Contents
What you will learn
- Why security is part of your job
10:59 of video · Understand why agencies are targets, what attackers want, and four everyday habits that reduce risk.
- Phishing and scams
10:40 of video · Spot suspicious emails, texts, calls, QR codes, and fake voices; verify payment changes through a known contact.
- Passwords and sign-in safety
10:22 of video · Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication, and protect your account from unauthorized access.
- Protecting devices and information
9:42 of video · Keep devices updated and locked, work safely, and handle sensitive information through approved methods.
- Spot it, report it
9:38 of video · Recognize incidents and mistakes, respond promptly, and report what happened, where, and when.
- Action plan and final quiz
2:54 of video · Use your security checklist, review the course, and complete the final assessment.
Modules 1–5 include five-question quizzes (4 of 5 to pass). The final assessment has 12 questions (10 of 12 to pass). A TDTI certificate follows successful completion of the final assessment.
AVAILABLE ONLINE · FREE FOR ELIGIBLE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
AI for Public Leaders 101
Make informed decisions about where AI belongs in your agency. Explore governance, procurement, workforce readiness, public trust, and a practical 90-day plan for responsible adoption.
Designed for: Executives, department heads, technology leaders, and elected or appointed officials
Enroll / Begin Course ↗Explore Course Contents
What you will learn
- What leaders need to know about AI
9:10 of video · Understand predictive, generative, and agentic AI, their limitations, and where AI may already be used in your agency.
- Choosing where to use AI
8:03 of video · Start from an operational problem, screen opportunities for value and risk, and define a measurable pilot.
- Governing AI in your agency
8:07 of video · Establish use policies, risk tiers, named owners, oversight, and an inventory of AI uses.
- Buying AI responsibly
8:09 of video · Ask vendors about data use and safeguards, put expectations in contracts, and check performance after deployment.
- Leading people and public trust
7:49 of video · Prepare staff, communicate honestly, respond to mistakes, and consider equity and bias.
- Your 90-day plan
9:13 of video · Plan implementation, measure the investment and results, and report progress to your board or council.
Each module ends with a Leader’s checklist. There are no quizzes. Generative AI Fundamentals 101 is recommended preparation but is not required.
Built around your organization
On-site delivery.
Custom learning.
TDTI provides on-site, instructor-led training and develops custom courses for public and private sector organizations. We tailor learning objectives, examples, and practical exercises to your team’s responsibilities, experience, and operational needs.
Tell us about your audience, training goals, preferred location, and schedule. We will discuss the scope, delivery options, and pricing with you. The free offer applies to eligible public employees taking the online courses; on-site and custom training are arranged separately.