Get Better Answers from ChatGPT — Hands-On for Beginners (Class 1 of 2)

This is class one of two, and it starts from zero. You'll learn how to get a straight, useful answer out of a free AI tool on purpose — instead of the vague one most people get. Class two is the one where you build your own app, and this is the class that makes that possible. Hands-on, in person in El Cajon, free, and built for absolute beginners. Bring a laptop or just your phone. No experience needed.
HOW THE CLASSES WORK
The same two classes run as a repeating pair. Class one introduces you to the tools and gets you comfortable using them. Class two builds you a real, working app around something in your own life — you leave that one with software you made yourself. Come to either class on its own. Nothing is required first, and you're welcome to do the pair more than once.
EVERYONE GOES HOME WITH THE PROMPT ENGINEER APP
Free, for everyone who comes, whichever class you're in. You say what you want in your own words, and it turns that into a clear, well-built request you can paste into any AI tool. It sits on your phone's home screen like a normal app. I built it, it costs you nothing, and it's yours to keep. We'll put it on your phone in class.
WHAT YOU'LL LEAVE ABLE TO DO
• Turn a vague request into one that works, using four parts you can actually remember: the job, the details it can't know, who it's for, and what you want back.
• Fix a disappointing answer instead of giving up on it — three moves that turn a bad reply into a usable one.
• Get it to interview you first, so it stops guessing at things only you know.
• Say what's safe to type in and what isn't.
• Leave with a one-page card, one real before-and-after of your own, and the Prompt Engineer app on your phone.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Complete beginners. No coding, no technical background, no previous class. If you have never opened ChatGPT, you are exactly who this is for. If you came to an earlier session, bring your card — you'll be sharpening it, not repeating it.
AGENDA (2 hours)
0:00 Welcome, and getting everyone signed in
0:15 Live: the same question asked badly, then asked well
0:30 Your turn — your first four-part request
0:50 The push-back round: three ways to fix an answer
1:10 What's safe to type in, and what isn't
1:20 Your own real task, start to finish
1:45 Save it, prove you can use it again, and get the app on your phone
WHAT TO BRING
A laptop or a smartphone — either works for this one. Bring the phone either way, so we can put the app on it. A charger. A free ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude account helps, but we'll sort that out when you arrive. No credit card, no paid plan, nothing to install.
FORMAT AND FINDING US
In person at 2030 Gillespie Way, Unit 106, El Cajon, CA 92020. Look for Unit 106. Doors open 15 minutes before we start. Small class, so you're welcome to bring a friend.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Austin Kidwell. I build software and AI tools for a living and use these every day for real work. Most of what I know came from using them badly first. This is a small hands-on class, not a sales pitch.
Free. Prerequisites: none.