AI-Assisted Learning: Putting the Concept to the Test
I listen to Nathan Whitacre, host of The AI Daily Brief almost every day. A couple of months back, he covered a concept that stuck with me: one of the most effective ways to learn AI is to let AI train you. So I decided to test it.
I launched two parallel self-directed training programs using Claude.
1. CMMC CCA Refresher It had been several months since I completed my CMMC CCA training and passed the exam. With my eye on moving further into the CMMC assessment space, I wanted to stay sharp. I prompted Claude with several parameters, a 30 day timeline, roughly 30 minutes per day, my current experience level, and a defined goal and asked it to build a structured refresher plan. The output covered NIST SP 800-171 requirement families, assessment methodology (EXAMINE, INTERVIEW, TEST), SPRS scoring considerations, and SSP/POA&M fundamentals.
2. AI Foundations Training I also asked Claude to build an AI literacy training plan from the ground up. I gave it my background and asked it to start at AI 101 and calibrate as it went. Same constraints: 30 minutes a day, one month, with hands-on practical applications woven in. It delivered — covering topics like how large language models work, tokenization, prompt engineering, and real interaction tasks I had to actually complete.
Both programs are wrapping up now. Not every session was equally gripping, but the quality was consistently solid and the practical tasks kept it from being purely theoretical. The format genuinely works.
At the end of May, I plan to define my next deliberate training track or two.
— Doug