Three lessons I learned from my latest workshop for Canadian newcomers

🚀 On the evening of September 18, 2024, from 6 to 8 PM, I had the privilege of hosting another lively session on “Leveraging AI for Content Creation” via Zoom, specifically designed for our Farsi-speaking audience.

A huge thank you to Shahla Shakeriaski, whose seamless organization, along with the fantastic team at Catholic Community Services of York Region (CCSYR), made this workshop possible.

With 100+ participants tuning in, it was clear that the demand for practical AI knowledge is stronger than ever. CCSYR Digital team's hard work ensured that everything ran smoothly, providing another valuable learning opportunity for our community.😊

I kicked off by diving into why AI is shaking up the content creation game and why it’s here to stay. Then, in true "let's get practical" fashion, I switched to the whiteboard and broke down how Generative AI works. It was one of those 'aha!' moments for the audience—they finally got to see what AI can do for them and, more importantly, what it can't.

After laying down the theory, we jumped straight into the "real fun". I shared 6 key ChatGPT prompts (because writing good prompts is half the battle in getting great results), followed by a live demonstration of AI features on Canva. Watching the power of AI unfold in real time was like magic for the group!

But we didn't stop there. I also introduced some of my favorite tools that content creators can use daily—ElevenLabs for voice generation, HeyGen for video creation, Wix for web design, and You.com for AI-powered search. It was like a mini AI toolkit rolled out in just two hours.

My three takeaways from this fantastic evening:

1️⃣ Great Participation Means Great Learning:
Our participants were on fire! Not only did they stick around for the entire session, but they also threw in some really thought-provoking questions. Just like writing a good AI prompt leads to quality content, asking good questions is what leads to meaningful answers.

2️⃣ Effective Listening Makes a Difference:
It was incredible to see how attentively everyone listened—like they were hanging on to every word! This level of engagement really enriched the discussion. You know what they say, "The best listeners make the best learners."

3️⃣ The Joy of Creating:
I’ll admit, creating this workshop taught me just as much as it did the attendees. There’s something deeply rewarding about breaking down complex ideas and making them accessible. Plus, it’s a reminder that even as a speaker, I’m constantly learning from the process—and it was a blast putting it all together!

All in all, it was a fun, interactive, and insightful evening that left me feeling positive about the incredible things AI can help us achieve. I’m already excited for the next session, where we’ll continue equipping our community with practical skills to thrive in today’s digital world!

Thanks again to everyone who attended and contributed—you made it awesome! See you at the next one!

Good luck,
Mahmood from Toronto💐