---
title: "AI 120 · Build AI agents without code"
publisher: Maestro College (Maestro Open)
lessons: 16
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code
full: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/llms-full.txt
---

# Build AI agents without code (AI 120)

How AI agents work, and how to design one without code: clear instructions, the right knowledge and tools, careful testing, guardrails and a human approving what matters.

A chatbot answers questions. An agent does work: it follows instructions, looks things up in your documents and can take actions such as filling in a form or creating a ticket. This course shows you how agents work and how to design one without writing code. You'll write clear instructions, choose knowledge sources, decide which tools the agent may use, test it properly and add guardrails and human approval so it stays safe. The skills work in any no-code builder, and you'll finish with a complete, tested blueprint for an agent you could build at work.

## Course objectives
- What AI agents are and how they differ from chatbots and fixed automations
- The parts of an agent: instructions, knowledge, tools and triggers
- Writing instructions and choosing knowledge sources
- Tools, actions, multi-step tasks and human approval
- Testing, guardrails, launch and improvement

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## Lessons
### Unit 1: What agents are
- [From chatbot to agent](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/from-chatbot-to-agent.md)
- [The parts of an agent](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/the-parts-of-an-agent.md)
- [Choosing a good first agent](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/choosing-a-good-first-agent.md)
- [Challenge: agent or not?](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/challenge-agent-or-not.md)

### Unit 2: Instructions and knowledge
- [Writing agent instructions](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/writing-agent-instructions.md)
- [Knowledge sources](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/knowledge-sources.md)
- [Choosing a no-code builder](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/choosing-a-no-code-builder.md)
- [Challenge: write an agent spec](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/challenge-write-an-agent-spec.md)

### Unit 3: Tools, actions and approval
- [How tools and actions work](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/how-tools-and-actions-work.md)
- [Designing a multi-step task](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/designing-a-multi-step-task.md)
- [Human approval and handoff](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/human-approval-and-handoff.md)
- [Challenge: give your agent hands](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/challenge-give-your-agent-hands.md)

### Unit 4: Test, protect and launch
- [Testing your agent](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/testing-your-agent.md)
- [Guardrails and risks](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/guardrails-and-risks.md)
- [Launch, monitor and improve](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/launch-monitor-and-improve.md)
- [Challenge: your agent blueprint](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/build-ai-agents-without-code/challenge-your-agent-blueprint.md)

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.
Start with lesson 1 unless the learner asks for a specific lesson. Keep track of which lesson you are on.

## When a lesson is done
Teach one lesson at a time. A lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed for it; check each with a small task or question.
When it is complete:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson N complete: <lesson title>." (use the lesson's number and title).
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, say "Lesson N+1 of 16: <title>", and ask if they're ready to start it. Start it only when they say yes.
After the last lesson, congratulate them on finishing the course.