When I first agreed to teach a class on artificial intelligence (AI), specifically focusing on its applications in the nonprofit sector, I had no idea what to expect from the students. The class was organized by Momentum Nonprofit Partners, and it was one of the Professional Development Workshops that I wanted to pilot for Code School, and it was titled "Leveraging ChatGPT: Nonprofits and AI". The goal was to explore the benefits and challenges of using AI technology in the nonprofit world.
The Unexpected Turnout
To my surprise, the turnout was much higher than I had anticipated. A total of 35 people signed up for the class, a number that exceeded my expectations. This showed me that there is a growing interest in the intersection of AI and nonprofit work, and that professionals in this sector are keen to learn about the latest technologies and how they can be leveraged to further their missions.
The Depth of Questions
The depth and breadth of the questions asked by the participants were truly impressive. It was clear that the attendees were not only interested in the theoretical aspects of AI but also in its practical applications in the nonprofit sector. They wanted to understand how AI could help them streamline their operations, reach more people, and make a bigger impact. The questions ranged from the basics of AI to its ethical implications and how to implement AI tools in their organizations.
The Time Flew By
Initially, I was apprehensive when I found out that the session was scheduled to last for an hour and a half. I was worried that I might not have enough content to fill the time. However, once the class started, the time flew by. The discussions were so engaging and the questions so thought-provoking that the class could have easily lasted 2-3 hours. This experience taught me that when the subject matter is engaging and the audience is interested, time becomes a non-issue.
The Future
The success of this class has inspired me to continue sharing my knowledge about AI. I'm already preparing to teach a similar workshop for business analysts and project managers soon. So, stay tuned for that! If the demand continues to be high, perhaps Momentum Partners will invite me back for another nonprofit session.
Teaching this class was a rewarding experience and I had a great time. When we did some "open call" prompting, there was a request to have ChatGPT rewrite some emails in Klingon. That was a first but be rest assured ChatGPT wrote my email like a Klingon! The workshop showed me that there is a thirst for knowledge about AI in the nonprofit sector, and I'm excited to continue contributing to this field.
To learn more about the event, you can visit the Momentum Nonprofit Partners website.
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