CSCI 100 · COLL 100 ATTRIBUTEFIRST-YEAR SEMINAR

Learn to talk to machines.

This course teaches you to get useful work out of AI systems by writing better instructions. No programming background required — writing, argument, and clear thinking are the technical skills here.

FALL 2026 · 4 CREDITS · INTEGRATED SCIENCE CENTER 2280 · TWO SECTIONS, ONE COURSE

The labs →The syllabus

01PersonaRole & expertise
02TaskGoal & action
03ContextEvidence & constraints
04FormatShape & structure
05GuardrailsBoundaries & checks
06ExamplesReference pattern

7hands-on labs, one a week, then a workshop weeks 8–15

SECTION 06 · CRN 14423

Dr. Antonio Mastropaolo · amastropaolo@wm.edu — MWF 10:00–10:50 AM, ISC 2280

SECTION 09 · CRN 14522

Dr. Trey Woodlief · adwoodlief@wm.edu — TR 2:00–3:20 PM, ISC 2280

OFFICE HOURS

Dr. Mastropaolo (Sec 06): Mon & Wed 4:00–5:30 PM, ISC 2333. Dr. Woodlief (Sec 09): posted on Blackboard in the first week. Both by appointment too

GRADING

Participation 5 · Labs 10 · Assignments 20 · Midterm proposal 25 · Final project 40 — no exams

DEADLINES

Labs are done live in the hands-on session, on the lab page itself — submitted there, checked instantly. They unlock in order: one left undone blocks the next

The labs →

◆ Your path through the course

Eight weeks to learn the technique, then a workshop to use it.

The map builds itself every ten seconds: weeks 1–8, the midterm proposal, the workshop, and the final project. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, or download the model as OBJ or GLB.

First week · week 1 of 15·What is AIChecked live · saves as you type

FIRST SESSION

The right prompt

What an LLM actually does, watched live — dazzling and lying within ten minutes of each other.

BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION

One free account

ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot — pick one, sign up free, two minutes. Copilot is free for W&M students.

EVERY WEEK

Bring a laptop

One session each week is hands-on. No laptop? Tell your instructor in week one and we will sort an alternative.

Semester · 15 weeks

Part one · techniquePart two · your problem

LABS START NEXT WEEK · LAB 1 OPENS IN THE HANDS-ON SESSION

◆ · The diary

Latest from the class.

AUG 17 milestone

This site is live — see you in the first session, Integrated Science Center 2280.

AUG 17 material

Lab 1 — “Hello, model” — is posted. You do it live, right on the lab page.

Six labs · checked live as you work

Guided, step by step, one hands-on session a week.

Go to the labs →