# Think Smarter About AI: Critical Thinking Skills for Government Employees Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/think-smarter-about-ai-critical-thinking-skills-for-government-employees-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how federal employees access information, analyze data, solve problems, and support decision-making. As AI tools become more integrated into workplace operations, employees must develop the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate AI-generated content, recognize risks, and apply sound judgment in high-stakes environments.

This practical, interactive course helps participants strengthen critical thinking and decision-making skills while learning how to responsibly and effectively use AI tools in the federal workplace. Through demonstrations, facilitated discussions, hands-on exercises, and realistic federal workplace scenarios, participants learn how to evaluate AI outputs, ask stronger prompts, apply logical reasoning, and use AI as a decision-support tool while maintaining accountability, ethics, and human judgment.

## What you'll learn

- Explain how AI is transforming work and decision-making in federal environments.
- Evaluate AI-generated information for credibility, accuracy, bias, and completeness.
- Distinguish between facts, opinions, assumptions, and AI-generated misinformation.
- Apply critical thinking frameworks and logical reasoning techniques to AI-supported work.
- Develop effective prompting strategies that improve the quality and reliability of AI outputs.
- Identify risks, limitations, and ethical considerations associated with workplace AI use.
- Apply human-in-the-loop practices to support responsible AI use and informed decision-making.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: AI and Critical Thinking in the Federal Workplace

- Introduction to AI: what AI is, how generative AI works, and common federal workplace applications.
- AI in the federal workplace: current and emerging use cases, opportunities for efficiency, and risks of over-reliance.
- Critical, mechanical, and emotional thinking: how different thinking styles impact decisions, automation bias, and the role of human judgment.
- Human-in-the-loop decision-making: why AI should support rather than replace human judgment, and accountability in AI-assisted work.

#### Module 2: Evaluating AI Outputs and Information Credibility

- Fact vs. opinion in AI responses: how AI blends facts, assumptions, and probability, and how to recognize unsupported claims.
- Evaluating information credibility: applying CRAAP-style evaluation principles, including currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.
- Common AI risks: hallucinations, bias, overconfidence, incomplete context, and false certainty.
- Verifying AI outputs: cross-checking information, evaluating sources and evidence, and recognizing gaps in reasoning.

#### Module 3: Logical Reasoning and Prompting for Better AI Results

- Logical reasoning fundamentals: premises, inferences, and conclusions in AI-supported analysis.
- Recognizing faulty logic: hasty generalizations, false dichotomies, unsupported assumptions, and non sequiturs.
- Asking better questions: Socratic questioning techniques and critical analysis prompts for deeper AI-supported inquiry.
- Prompt engineering fundamentals: writing clear prompts, providing context and constraints, and refining outputs iteratively.
- AI as a thinking partner: using AI for brainstorming, drafting, analysis support, and scenario evaluation.

#### Module 4: Applying AI and Critical Thinking to Federal Work Scenarios

- Practical federal use cases: research and analysis, drafting communications, meeting summaries, and policy and program support.
- Responsible AI use: security and privacy considerations, ethical obligations, and human oversight practices.
- Decision-making with AI: evaluating recommendations, considering stakeholder impacts, and balancing efficiency, accuracy, and risk.
- Building an AI-ready mindset: adaptability, continuous learning, and critical evaluation habits for responsible long-term AI use.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $675