A Practical Introduction to Using ChatGPT, Google Colab, Canva, Copilot, and More
This guide is designed to help you understand and effectively use popular AI tools to boost your learning, productivity, and creativity. Whether you’re working on class assignments, clinical research, presentations, or digital content, these tools can be powerful allies.
I. ChatGPT – Your AI Writing & Brainstorming Assistant
- What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. It can understand your questions and generate human-like text responses.
- How to Start Using ChatGPT (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Go to ChatGPT
- Sign up with your email or Google account.
- Log in and start chatting.
💡 Tip: If possible, choose latest version for better quality (available via paid subscription).
Step 2: Type Your Question Clearly
You don’t need to know coding. Just write a clear request, like:
- ✅ “Write an Instagram post promoting acupuncture for seasonal allergies.”
- ✅ ““Write a sample consent form for acupuncture treatment in the Colorado, U.S.”
- ✅ “Draft a contract agreement for a TCM clinic partnership.”
Step 3: Review and Edit the Answer
- Copy the response directly into Word, Canva, or Google Docs.
- If the answer isn’t what you expected, try:
- Rewriting the prompt
- Asking follow-up questions
- Clicking “Regenerate” to get a new answer
- Real-Life Use Cases for TCM Students & Practitioners
Here’s how you can integrate ChatGPT into your academic and professional work:
| 🎯 Use Case | 🧠 Example Prompt | |
| Clinic Operation Support | “Create a front desk SOP for a TCM clinic.” | |
| Marketing & Promotion | “Write a promotional email inviting people to a free consultation day.” | |
| Patient Education | “Draft a handout explaining the benefits of acupuncture for back pain.” | |
| Business Writing | “Create a partnership proposal between a TCM clinic and a yoga studio.” | |
| Legal Documents | “Write a sample consent form for acupuncture treatment in the Colorado U.S.” | |
| Academic Writing | “Summarize the theory of Five Elements in a scientific tone.” | |
| Translation & Terminology | “Translate ‘补中益气汤’ and explain its indications in English.” | |
| Graphic Design Brief for Canva | “Describe a poster design for spring wellness: green tone, acupuncture imagery, QR code in corner.” | |
| Generate Python Code (via Colab) | “Write a Python program to plot a heatmap of acupuncturist distribution by ZIP code.” | |
| Create Visual Flowcharts | “Create a flowchart for the intake process in a TCM clinic, from booking to follow-up.” | |
| Survey/Data Tool Creation | “Generate Google Form questions for a patient satisfaction survey in a TCM clinic.” | |
| Website Content Planning | “Write homepage content for a bilingual acupuncture clinic website (English + Chinese).” | |
| Video Script Drafting | “Write a short script (1 min) for a clinic intro video using friendly tone.” | |
| Checklist or SOP Creation | “Make a checklist for setting up an herbal dispensary.” | |
| Research Summary | “Summarize recent studies on acupuncture for chronic pain in bullet points.” | |
- Recommended Tutorial Videos
These videos offer helpful walkthroughs for beginners and intermediate users:
- The ULTIMATE ChatGPT Tutorial: Crash Course for Beginners (2025)
- ChatGPT Tutorial – A Crash Course on Chat GPT for Beginners (YouTube)
- How To Write Business Emails FAST with ChatGPT(YouTube)
- Common Questions (FAQ)
| ❓ Question | ✅ Answer |
| Is ChatGPT free? | It has free version; and paid version is $20/month. |
| Can I trust its medical answers? | NO, Use it for drafts or brainstorming only. Always verify medical content. |
| Can it generate legal documents? | NO, you can use it for templates or drafts. You must review with a professional. |
| Is it okay for patient communication? | Yes — just make sure to edit it for tone, accuracy, and privacy. |
II. Google Colab – A Playground for AI and Data Analysis
- 💡 What is Google Colab?
Google Colab (short for “Colaboratory”) is a free, cloud-based platform provided by Google that allows you to write and run Python code directly in your web browser — with no software installation required.
It is especially useful for:
- Data analysis (e.g., clinic reports, patient surveys)
- Data visualization (e.g., charts, heatmaps, timelines)
- Running AI models (e.g., generating images, classifying text)
- Automating repetitive tasks (e.g., converting Excel files, creating summaries)
✅ Think of it as a digital lab notebook for coding — accessible anywhere, easy to share, and integrated with Google Drive.
- 🧠 What You Can Do With Google Colab
Here are some example tasks that TCM students and professionals can accomplish:
| 🛠️ Application | 🔍 Example Use Case |
| Plot data charts | Visualize acupuncture patient visits by month using bar charts |
| Create heatmaps | Map acupuncturist density by ZIP code across Colorado |
| Analyze clinic data | Calculate patient retention or treatment success rates |
| Visualize research results | Show herbal formula effectiveness with line graphs |
| Automate text generation with AI | Use scripts to bulk-generate patient follow-up messages |
| Process survey results | Clean, sort, and summarize feedback forms in Excel |
| Integrate ChatGPT or DALL·E via API | Build tools that combine ChatGPT-generated text with images |
- 🚀 How to Get Started (Step-by-Step)
✅ Step 1: Open Google Colab
Visit: https://colab.research.google.com
Requires a Google account.
✅ Step 2: Create a New Notebook
- Click “File” → “New Notebook”
- Rename your notebook (top left) to something like clinic_data_analysis.ipynb
✅ Step 3: Write Python Code
In each code cell, write Python commands. Press Shift + Enter to run.
Example:
| python
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt # Sample data months = [‘Jan’, ‘Feb’, ‘Mar’, ‘Apr’] patients = [30, 45, 50, 60] # Create a bar chart plt.bar(months, patients) plt.title(“Monthly Patient Visits”) plt.xlabel(“Month”) plt.ylabel(“Number of Patients”) plt.show() |
Don’t know how to code? Ask ChatGPT to do it.
- 📚 Beginner-Friendly Tutorials (Video)
- Google Colab for Beginners – Full Tutorial (YouTube)
- Google Colab Tutorial | Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
- Colab Data Visualizations Made Easy
- Hello Colab – Mapping and Data Visualization with Python
- 💬 Tips & Best Practices
| ✅ Tip | 📌 Why it helps |
| Use comments (#) to explain your code | Makes it easier to understand when you revisit later |
| Save to Google Drive frequently | Prevent data loss and organize your projects |
| Reuse and modify code templates | Don’t start from scratch every time |
| Share your notebook with teammates | Use “Share” just like in Google Docs |
| Always test small portions first | Debugging is easier when you go step-by-step |
III. Canva – Easy Design for Posters, Presentations & Clinic Branding
- 🎨 What is Canva?
Canva is a free, web-based graphic design tool that lets anyone create professional-quality designs without needing any design experience. With drag-and-drop features and thousands of templates, it’s perfect for:
- Clinic promotional materials
- Class or conference presentations
- Educational handouts and infographics
- Instagram, WeChat, and website graphics
- Business cards and banners
🆓 Canva offers a generous free version. You can upgrade to Pro for more fonts, photos, and brand tools.
- 📌 What You Can Use Canva For (TCM-specific Examples)
| 🛠️ Application | 🧠 Example |
| Clinic Poster Design | Create a flyer for “Spring Liver Detox Acupuncture Day” |
| Social Media Graphics | Design bilingual Instagram posts to promote your herbal formulas |
| Workshop Announcements | Make a digital poster for your Five Elements webinar |
| Class PPTs / Slide Decks | Use professional templates for DAOM lecture slides |
| Brochures & Handouts | Create an herbal treatment guide for cold and flu |
| WeChat or Email Banners | Design sleek headers for your TCM newsletter |
| Clinic Branding Package | Create your logo, appointment cards, and signage in one place |
- 🚀 How to Get Started (Step-by-Step)
✅ Step 1: Open Canva
Visit https://www.canva.com
- Create a free account using Google or email.
- You’ll be taken to your Canva dashboard.
✅ Step 2: Choose What You Want to Create
Click “Create a design” and choose from templates like:
- Poster (for clinic ads or health days)
- Presentation (for class or conference talks)
- Instagram Post (for social media promotion)
- Flyer (for handouts at events)
You can also search keywords like “Chinese Medicine,” “Clinic,” or “Wellness.”
✅ Step 3: Customize the Design
- Drag and drop: Add text, images, icons, or your clinic logo.
- Change fonts/colors: Match your clinic branding or seasonal theme.
- Upload files: Add your own photos or QR codes.
- Multilingual: Type directly in Chinese or English to create bilingual designs.
✅ Step 4: Download or Share
Click “Download” and choose PDF, PNG, or JPG. Or share directly via a link or email for collaboration.
💡 For print materials like brochures or business cards, choose “PDF for print.”
- 📺 Canva Tutorial Videos for Beginners
- FULL CANVA TUTORIAL 2025 | How To Use Canva For BEGINNERS!
- Canva Tutorial For Beginners 2025 (Full Canva Design Guide)
- Canva Tutorial for Beginners 2025
- 💬 Pro Tips for Effective Designs
| ✅ Tip | 💡 Why It Matters |
| Use Canva templates | Saves time and improves professionalism |
| Choose brand colors & fonts | Consistent branding builds trust |
| Keep text minimal on social media | Visual-first posts get more attention |
| Include a clear call-to-action | “Book Now,” “Scan to Reserve,” etc. |
| Add your QR code or clinic logo | Reinforces identity and makes access easy |
IV. AI Image Tools – Create, Enhance, and Edit Visuals with Ease
- 🎨 Image Generation
AI image generators allow you to create professional, original images by simply typing what you want — no design skills needed. These tools are especially useful for:
- Making custom visuals for social media or clinic posters
- Creating illustrations for herbal formulas or acupuncture techniques
- Designing icons, logos, or marketing images
- Generating background images for presentations or videos
🧠 Tools & What They Do
🔹 DALL·E (by OpenAI)
- Text-to-image generation in a few seconds
- Best for creating realistic, surreal, or artistic illustrations
- Built directly into ChatGPT Pro (GPT-4)
🧪 Example Prompt:
“A peaceful acupuncture clinic surrounded by cherry blossoms, watercolor style”
🔹 Midjourney
- Accessed via Discord
- Known for highly artistic, stylized images
- Excellent for logos, mood boards, or cover art
Example: “Ancient Chinese medical practitioner in a bamboo forest, cinematic lighting”
🔹 Leonardo.AI
- A powerful tool with advanced style control
- Offers templates for characters, icons, concept art, etc.
- Good choice for educational or branding visuals
✅ Great for creating custom avatars, branded icons, or herbal-themed infographics
- 🧼 Background Removal
🔹 Remove.bg
- Instantly removes image backgrounds with 1 click
- Upload a photo → download a clean, transparent PNG
- Ideal for:
- Adding your photo to a poster
- Creating product visuals (herbs, tools)
- Preparing instructor headshots for websites
🔗 Try it: https://www.remove.bg
- 📺 Recommended Tutorial Videos
- DALL·E 3 (via ChatGPT) Tutorial: How to Use DALL·E 3 in ChatGPT to Create Images
- Midjourney Tutorial: The ULTIMATE Beginners Guide to Midjourney in 2025
- Leonardo AI Tutorial: Leonardo AI – Tutorial for Beginners in 12 MINS! [FULL GUIDE 2025]
- Remove.bg Tutorial: Remove BG: The Best Background Removal Tool Tutorial
- ✨ Tips for TCM Use
| 🧠 Use Case | 💡 Example Prompt or Use |
| Educational illustrations | “Illustration of the Five Elements cycle with icons” |
| Seasonal wellness posters | “Autumn herbal tea with falling leaves, flat lay design” |
| Background for clinic website | “Modern natural clinic with bamboo decor, soft lighting” |
| WeChat or Instagram visuals | “Yin-Yang symbol with watercolor brush strokes” |
| Personalized instructor images | Remove.bg to clean headshots for flyers or PPTs |
V. AI Video Creation & Editing – Turn Ideas into Impactful Visual Stories
- 🎬 What Are AI Video Tools?
AI-powered video tools allow you to create or edit professional-looking videos without filming, without editing skills, and often just from a script, image, or prompt. These tools are excellent for:
- Explaining acupuncture or herbal treatments
- Creating clinic intro videos for websites or social media
- Producing short educational clips for patient instruction
- Making visual presentations for conferences or classes
- 🔧 Top Tools & Their Use Cases
🔹 Runway ML (https://runwayml.com/)
- Create video from text or image prompts
- Remove objects, change backgrounds, or animate still images
- Great for short explainer videos or background loops
🧠 Use Example:
“Turn a still image of a clinic room into a panning video background for a presentation.”
🔹 Pika Labs(https://pika.art/)
- Turn a few lines of script or a prompt into cinematic AI videos
- Generate dynamic, stylized visual sequences with motion and music
- Ideal for marketing, storytelling, or dramatic visualizations
🧠 Use Example:
“Create a 10-second animation showing herbs growing through the seasons, with poetic Chinese-style music.”
🔹 CapCut (Web & Mobile App)
- An easy-to-use video editing tool by ByteDance (the makers of TikTok)
- Offers auto-subtitles, AI voiceovers, background music, filters, and more
- Ideal for creating short-form video content, such as clinic walkthroughs, herbal demo clips, or quick health tips
🧠 Use Example:
“Edit a 60-second video tour of your acupuncture clinic with background music, Chinese and English subtitles, and a call-to-action overlay.”
- 📌 Other Powerful AI Video Tools
| Tool | What It Does | Use Case |
| HeyGen | Turn a script into a talking avatar | Patient education videos in English + Chinese |
| Animoto | Drag-and-drop video builder | Testimonials, class recaps, Instagram ads |
| Synthesia | Turn scripts into talking head videos with multilingual avatars | Online courses, bilingual video lectures |
| InVideo | Create marketing videos from templates | Promotional ads, clinic intro videos |
- 🧠 What You Can Use These Tools For (TCM Examples)
| 🎯 Application Area | 🧠 Example Prompt or Scenario |
| Clinic Marketing Videos | “Create a 30-second video introducing our acupuncture clinic and staff” |
| Seasonal Health Tips | “Generate a spring wellness video with soft background music and tips on liver detox” |
| Patient Education | “Explain how cupping works using animation and subtitles” |
| Class Introductions | “Create an instructor intro video with a talking AI avatar in English and Mandarin” |
| Social Media Reels | “Show a time-lapse of herbs boiling with catchy captions and a relaxing soundtrack” |
| Online Course Content | “Create a visual explanation of the Five Zang Organs for an online class” |
| Conference Submissions | “Convert a research abstract into a short animated explainer video” |
- 📺 Tutorial Videos for Beginners
- Runway ML Tutorial: Runway ML Tutorial for Beginners
- Pika Lab Tutorial: Pika – Tutorial for Beginners in 9 MINUTES! [ Pika Labs 2025 ]
- CapCut Tutorial: How To Create VIRAL AI Generated Videos with CapCut
- ✅ Tips for Success
| 💡 Tip | Why It Helps |
| Start with short scripts | Easier to polish and adapt into different formats |
| Use subtitles | Improves accessibility and engagement |
| Choose music that matches pace | Calm for education, upbeat for promotion |
| Use consistent colors/logos | Builds brand identity for your clinic or school |
| Check copyright/license | Especially when using public assets in commercial use |
VI. Text-to-Speech (TTS) – Bring Your Words to Life
- 🗣️ What is TTS?
Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology converts written text into spoken audio using AI-generated voices. These tools are especially helpful for:
- Creating professional voiceovers for videos
- Making bilingual patient instructions
- Producing audio lectures or podcast content
- Building virtual clinic introductions
- Offering accessibility for visually impaired patients
✅ TTS allows you to maintain a consistent voice and tone — without needing to record yourself.
- 🔧 Top Tools & Their Use Cases
🔹 ElevenLabs(https://www.elevenlabs.io)
- Delivers hyper-realistic voices in over 20 languages
- Lets you clone your own voice or choose from a wide voice library
- Ideal for:
- Educational narration (e.g., Five Zang theory audio lessons)
- Multilingual health announcements
- Podcast-style lecture series
🧠 Use Example:
“Generate a calm, professional Mandarin voice explaining dietary advice for patients with spleen deficiency.”
🔹 HeyGen (https://www.heygen.com also in Video Creation)
- Create talking avatar videos with synced lip movements and natural voices
- Supports script input in multiple languages
- Excellent for:
- Bilingual instructor intros
- AI receptionist videos for clinic websites
- Lecture summaries with avatar guides
🧠 Use Example:
“Turn a 200-word acupuncture safety guideline into a short video with a virtual assistant speaking in both English and Mandarin.”
- 📺 Recommended Tutorial Videos
- ElevenLabs Tutorial: How To Use ElevenLabs – Full Tutorial
- HeyGen AI Talking Avatar Tutorial: HeyGen AI Tutorial 2025 (Step by Step Guide)
- 🧠 Practical Use Cases for TCM Clinics & Educators
| Use Case | Example |
| Clinic Intro Voiceover | “Welcome to our clinic. We specialize in acupuncture and herbal treatments.” (English + Chinese versions) |
| Patient Instructions | “How to take your herbal decoction” explained with voice + image |
| Course Content Narration | Record text from lecture slides into natural voice for DAOM students |
| Social Media or WeChat Reels | Narrate seasonal wellness tips or formula explanations |
| Podcast or Audio Blog | Create bite-sized TCM insights for Spotify or your clinic website |
| Digital Accessibility | Offer audio versions of educational PDFs for patients with reading difficulty |
- ✅ Tips for Using TTS Effectively
| Tip | Why It Helps |
| Choose the right tone & language | Medical? Friendly? Formal? Choose voice accordingly |
| Use clear, short sentences | Improves audio clarity and understanding |
| Add pauses in scripts | Makes voice sound more natural |
| Combine with Canva/Video tools | Pair audio with visuals for full presentations |
| Save reusable voice templates | Save time and ensure brand consistency |
