“使初步了解”可以翻译为 “enable someone to have a preliminary/basic understanding of” 或 “help someone get a preliminary/basic knowledge of”。
enable someone to have a preliminary understanding of：强调赋予某人初步理解的能力。
help someone get a preliminary knowledge of：侧重于帮助某人获得初步的知识。
例如：
This course is designed to enable students to have a preliminary understanding of quantum physics.（这门课程旨在使学生初步了解量子物理学。）
The tutorial will help you get a basic knowledge of programming.（这个教程会帮助你初步了解编程知识。）