655 News courses

Learn how to substantially reduce stress and improve concentration, focus and energy with a simple, powerful meditation technique.

This seminar supports you to implement ideas from the Six Stages Framework. It is designed for those who are reading or have read my book Understanding and Dealing with Everyday Racism- The Six Stages Framework

Course Duration: Half-day or full-day (can also be delivered as a 3-part virtual workshop series) Target Audience: Professionals in non-technical roles (e.g. executive assistants, HR, marketing, project managers, operations staff, trainers, and admin support) who want to use generative AI to enhance their work—without needing coding skills. Course Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand what generative AI is and how it works in plain language. Identify use cases relevant to their role or industry. Use popular generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot) confidently. Write effective prompts to get better, more relevant results. Apply AI ethically and responsibly in the workplace. Course Outline Module 1: Demystifying Generative AI What is generative AI? (Plain language explanation) How AI models like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini work Examples of what generative AI can (and can’t) do Myths, risks, and benefits of AI in non-tech roles Module 2: Everyday Use Cases for Professionals Time-saving applications: Drafting emails, reports, meeting summaries Creating checklists, plans, or SOPs Enhancing creativity: Brainstorming ideas for events, campaigns, or training Writing social media posts, newsletters, or job ads Organising information: Summarising documents Structuring spreadsheets or creating templates Supporting communication: Improving tone and clarity Translating or simplifying content Module 3: Prompting Essentials What is a “prompt” and why does it matter? How to write clear, specific, and effective prompts Prompting frameworks (e.g., “Role–Task–Goal” method) Live practice: transforming a vague prompt into a powerful one Troubleshooting: when AI gives poor answers and how to improve them Module 4: Hands-On Exploration Try-it-yourself exercises using ChatGPT or Gemini (guided) Real workplace examples and team challenges Create an AI-generated email, checklist, or idea list Optional: use industry-specific examples (e.g., HR, admin, events, comms) Module 5: Responsible AI Use at Work Understanding AI limitations and biases Protecting privacy and sensitive data When not to use AI Workplace policies and guidelines (customisable for your organisation) Ethical use: attribution, transparency, and human review Module 6: Getting Started in Your Role Tools overview: free vs paid options (ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini) Building your own AI toolkit Tips for staying up to date as tools evolve 30-day challenge: how to build AI into your daily workflow Delivery Style Highly interactive, practical, and low-jargon No coding or tech background required Hands-on demos, guided practice, and scenario-based activities Group discussion and peer learning Course Materials Provided Quick-start guide: Top 10 prompts for non-tech roles AI Prompt Library for your job type Do’s and Don’ts for ethical use of AI at work “AI in Action” workbook with examples and checklists Personal AI Action Plan Optional Add-ons Team-based AI hackathon (mini workplace challenge) Tailored follow-up webinar for Q&A and deeper use cases Co-branded playbook for organisational AI use Integration with digital transformation or innovation initiatives

Course Duration: Half-day or full-day (can also be delivered as a 3-part virtual workshop series) Target Audience: Professionals in non-technical roles (e.g. executive assistants, HR, marketing, project managers, operations staff, trainers, and admin support) who want to use generative AI to enhance their work—without needing coding skills. Course Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand what generative AI is and how it works in plain language. Identify use cases relevant to their role or industry. Use popular generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot) confidently. Write effective prompts to get better, more relevant results. Apply AI ethically and responsibly in the workplace. Course Outline Module 1: Demystifying Generative AI What is generative AI? (Plain language explanation) How AI models like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini work Examples of what generative AI can (and can’t) do Myths, risks, and benefits of AI in non-tech roles Module 2: Everyday Use Cases for Professionals Time-saving applications: Drafting emails, reports, meeting summaries Creating checklists, plans, or SOPs Enhancing creativity: Brainstorming ideas for events, campaigns, or training Writing social media posts, newsletters, or job ads Organising information: Summarising documents Structuring spreadsheets or creating templates Supporting communication: Improving tone and clarity Translating or simplifying content Module 3: Prompting Essentials What is a “prompt” and why does it matter? How to write clear, specific, and effective prompts Prompting frameworks (e.g., “Role–Task–Goal” method) Live practice: transforming a vague prompt into a powerful one Troubleshooting: when AI gives poor answers and how to improve them Module 4: Hands-On Exploration Try-it-yourself exercises using ChatGPT or Gemini (guided) Real workplace examples and team challenges Create an AI-generated email, checklist, or idea list Optional: use industry-specific examples (e.g., HR, admin, events, comms) Module 5: Responsible AI Use at Work Understanding AI limitations and biases Protecting privacy and sensitive data When not to use AI Workplace policies and guidelines (customisable for your organisation) Ethical use: attribution, transparency, and human review Module 6: Getting Started in Your Role Tools overview: free vs paid options (ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini) Building your own AI toolkit Tips for staying up to date as tools evolve 30-day challenge: how to build AI into your daily workflow Delivery Style Highly interactive, practical, and low-jargon No coding or tech background required Hands-on demos, guided practice, and scenario-based activities Group discussion and peer learning Course Materials Provided Quick-start guide: Top 10 prompts for non-tech roles AI Prompt Library for your job type Do’s and Don’ts for ethical use of AI at work “AI in Action” workbook with examples and checklists Personal AI Action Plan Optional Add-ons Team-based AI hackathon (mini workplace challenge) Tailored follow-up webinar for Q&A and deeper use cases Co-branded playbook for organisational AI use Integration with digital transformation or innovation initiatives

Introduction When it comes to academic writing, referencing is crucial. It’s not just about giving credit where it’s due, but also about enhancing the credibility of your work. Among the various referencing styles, Harvard referencing for word essays is one of the most widely used, especially in the UK. But why is it so popular, and how can you master it? Let’s dive in! Understanding Harvard Referencing Harvard referencing is a system of citation that allows you to acknowledge the sources you’ve used in your academic writing. It’s an author-date system, which means you include the author’s surname and the year of publication within the text, and provide full details in a reference list at the end. Despite its name, Harvard references didn’t originate from Harvard University. The style was first used by a zoologist named Edward Laurens Mark in a paper published in 1881. Over time, it has evolved and become one of the most recognized citation styles worldwide. Harvard referencing consists of two main components: in-text citations and a reference list. In-text citations are brief and are placed within the body of your text, while the reference list provides full details of all the sources you’ve cited. The Basics of Harvard Referencing In-text citations in Harvard referencing include the author’s surname and the year of publication. If you’re quoting directly, you should also include the page number. For example: (Smith, 2020, p. 23). The reference list is where you provide full details of each source cited in your work. Each entry should include the author’s name, year of publication, title of the work, and other relevant information, depending on the type of source. A reference list includes only the sources you’ve directly cited in your text, while a bibliography may include all sources you’ve consulted, whether or not you’ve cited them. How to Cite Different Types of Sources When citing a book, you should include the author’s name, year of publication, title (in italics), edition (if applicable), place of publication, and publisher. For example: Smith, J. (2020). The Art of Referencing (2nd ed.). London: Academic Press. Journal articles should include the author’s name, year of publication, title of the article, title of the journal (in italics), volume number, issue number, and page numbers. For example: Brown, A. (2019). ‘Understanding Harvard Referencing’, Journal of Academic Writing, 12(3), pp. 45-67. For websites, include the author (or organization), year of publication (or last update), title of the webpage (in italics), and the URL. For example: University of Oxford. (2021). Harvard Referencing Guide. Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/harvard (Accessed: 10 September 2024). When citing a newspaper article, include the author’s name, year of publication, title of the article, title of the newspaper (in italics), date, and page number. For example: Doe, J. (2022). ‘The Future of Academic Writing’, The Times, 5 May, p. 12. For government documents, include the name of the government department, year of publication, title of the document (in italics), place of publication, and publisher. For example: UK Department for Education. (2020). Education Policy Report. London: HMSO. Cite conference papers by including the author’s name, year of publication, title of the paper, title of the conference (in italics), location, and date of the conference. For example: Jones, M. (2023). ‘Innovations in Academic Writing’, International Writing Conference, Manchester, 10-12 April. Harvard Referencing for Electronic Sources When citing e-books, the format is similar to print books, but you should include the format (e.g., Kindle) or the platform where it’s available. For example: Adams, R. (2018). Digital Referencing (Kindle ed.). Available at: Amazon.co.uk. For online journals, follow the same format as print journals, but include the DOI or the URL where the article can be accessed. For example: Taylor, S. (2021). ‘Harvard Referencing in the Digital Age’, Journal of Modern Research, 15(4), pp. 33-50. DOI: 10.1234/jmr.2021.0987. The format for websites remains the same as mentioned earlier, with the inclusion of the URL and the access date. For social media, include the author (or username), year, content of the post (in italics), platform, and the date of the post. For example: @AcademicWriterUK. (2023). The key to successful referencing is consistency. Twitter, 15 March. Advanced Harvard Referencing Techniques When you can’t access the original source and need to cite a secondary source, mention both the original and secondary source. For example: (Smith, 1989, cited in Brown, 2019). For works with multiple authors, list up to three authors in the in-text citation. For more than three, use “et al.” after the first author’s name. For example: (Jones, Smith, and Brown, 2020) or (Jones et al., 2020). If you’re citing different editions of a book, mention the edition in your reference. For example: Brown, A. (2018). Theories of Learning (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. If some information is missing, like the author or date, use “Anon.” for anonymous authors and “n.d.” for no date. Common Harvard Referencing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Incorrect formatting can easily occur if you’re not careful. Make sure to follow the correct structure for each type of source, as this can significantly impact your grade. Leaving out essential details like the author’s name or the year of publication is a common mistake. Always double-check your references before submitting your work. Punctuation is crucial in Harvard referencing. Misplacing a comma or period can change the meaning of your citation. Pay attention to the details! Tools and Resources for Harvard Referencing Online citation generators can save you time, but be cautious—always double-check the generated citations for accuracy. Tools like EndNote or Zotero can help you manage your references and ensure consistency throughout your work. Many universities provide specific guidelines for Harvard referencing. Always refer to your institution’s guidelines to ensure you’re following the correct format. The Importance of Consistency in Harvard Referencing Consistency is key in Harvard referencing. Uniformity in your citations not only makes your work look professional but also enhances readability. Inconsistent referencing can confuse readers and may lead to a lower grade. Make sure your citations follow a consistent style throughout your work. Tips for Mastering Harvard Referencing Always double-check your references before submission. Small errors can add up and impact your overall grade. Keep a record of all the sources you consult. This will make it easier to create your reference list and avoid missing any citations. Using a Harvard style guide can help ensure that you’re following the correct format. It’s a handy tool for quick reference. Conclusion Mastering Harvard referencing may seem daunting at first, but with practice and attention to detail, it becomes second nature. Remember, proper referencing not only supports your arguments but also adds credibility to your work. So, take your time, be consistent, and use the resources available to you.