Learning — AI Family Cheat Sheet

Learn anything, on your terms

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The 4-lesson personal course

I want to learn the basics of [topic]. Background: I'm a complete beginner and have about 20 minutes a day for a week.

Design me a 4-lesson micro-course. For each lesson:
- One core idea (not five)
- A 2-minute explanation in plain English
- A real-world example I'll recognize
- A 1-question check at the end

Start with Lesson 1. Wait for me to answer the check question before moving on.

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Explain it three ways

Use when: when one explanation didn't land

I'm trying to understand [concept] but I'm not quite getting it.

Try explaining it three different ways:
1. With an analogy from everyday life
2. With a story or example
3. With a simple visual I can imagine

After each, ask me which one is closest. We'll keep going from there.

Get unstuck on the hard stuff

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The "what am I missing?" prompt

Use when: when you keep hitting a wall on the same idea

I keep getting stuck on [concept]. Here's what I think I understand:

[your current mental model — write it out, even if rough]

What am I getting wrong? What's the prerequisite idea I might be missing? Don't just re-explain — diagnose what's actually broken in my understanding.

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Test me, hard

Use when: cementing what you've learned

I just learned [topic]. Test me with 5 questions that range from "did you read the chapter?" to "do you actually understand it well enough to apply it?"

After I answer all 5, score me honestly. Tell me which one revealed a misunderstanding, and what to study next.

Skills, not just facts

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Build a real skill — the deliberate practice plan

I want to actually get better at [skill — public speaking, cooking, woodworking, writing, etc.].

Time I can spend: [N minutes/hours per week]
Where I am now: [honest level]
Where I'd like to be in 90 days: [specific]

Don't give me 20 tips. Give me:
1. The ONE thing I should practice this week
2. How to know I'm doing it right (not just "doing it")
3. What to add in week 2 once week 1 is solid
4. The most common plateau and how to break through it

Curiosity, for its own sake

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The deep dive

Use when: any topic that fascinates you

I'm curious about [topic]. Take me on a guided deep dive, in 5 parts:

1. The 30-second "what is this and why does it matter"
2. The history — how did this even become a thing?
3. The current frontier — what's still being figured out?
4. The most surprising fact most people don't know
5. Three rabbit holes I could chase if I wanted to go deeper

Make it vivid. Use stories, not just bullet points.

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