While there are various reasons why people choose not to use AI, feeling intimidated could be a barrier for those unfamiliar with it. Some teachers also might not realize what an enormous time saver it can be for creating more inclusive and accessible learning environments. In today’s classrooms, AI literacy is becoming just as important as traditional skills, empowering educators to harness its potential effectively. Whether you're just starting out or an experienced veteran, accessing the power of generative AI begins with building better prompts.
What is a Prompt?
Generative AI tools are unique because they leverage large language models (LLMs) to understand, communicate, and generate human-like text based on the information they receive. Many of us are familiar with how to use keywords and phrases in search engines like Google to get accurate results. Similarly, AI prompts use natural language to create instructions for the tool, guiding it to produce a specific response, action, or product.
Imagine using AI for the first time to create a lesson plan. You type, "Create a lesson on triangles," expecting an elementary-level activity, but instead, you get a college engineering lesson! That’s when it hits you—AI needs clear guidance. After revising your prompt to focus on design-based activities with triangles, you finally get the perfect result. It’s a simple reminder: with AI, success comes from asking the right questions!
Just as with search engines, understanding the nuances of crafting prompts can significantly enhance the quality of the AI's output, which is known as prompt engineering! In a nutshell, you’ll only get out of AI what you put into it. That isn’t to say it is difficult - it is just that you need to know how to ask for what you want in order for it to save you the time and give you something magical. The following tips will set you on the course to building better AI prompts.
Ai Prompt Tip # 1: Know Your Role
The phrase “know your role” brings to mind the catchphrase of professional wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. While it might seem humorous, this phrase underscores an important principle in engineering AI prompts. It is crucial to clearly communicate the role, character, or perspective that your favorite Generative AI tool should take. This awareness is key to effectively using AI in your educational content.
For example, imagine you are an elementary STEM teacher who wants to develop a lesson on how triangles can be used to make powerful designs. If you asked Chat GPT to “develop a lesson plan on triangles,” you might get a high school geometry lesson. Instead, define your role or the role that you would like AI to take when designing the lesson plan. For example, you may begin with
“I am a 3rd grade elementary STEM teacher…” or “Create an elementary STEM lesson plan…”
TRY IT! Try out the prompts above in your favorite generative AI tool and see what results you get.
Tip # 2: Understand Your Audience
What do companies like Nike, Apple, and Amazon have in common? In addition to being wildly successful, they effectively understand their customer or target audience.
Similarly, defining your intended audience and their needs is important when crafting effective prompts. For instance, in our elementary STEM example, the audience could be 5th-grade students. Consider adding essential details, such as addressing the needs of multilingual students or tailoring them to your student's interests.
For instance, we could redesign our prompt to say:
“I am an elementary STEM teacher designing a 5th-grade lesson plan on the role of triangles in engineering and architecture. To support multilingual students, incorporate examples of triangle-based structures from Latin America and Asia, making the lesson culturally relevant and accessible."
TRY IT! Add to your prompt using the suggested tips in your favorite generative AI tool and explore the results. (Note: When I say add to your prompt, I really mean keep building within the same “conversation” with your AI tool. The conversation will build on and gather context from the information shared above. If you find the content veering in the wrong direction, tell your AI chatbot that! Point them in the right direction with action-oriented feedback.)
Tip # 3: Define the Task
Imagine your principal asks you to cover a colleague's class for a period. You find only a Post-it note that says, "Teach my students," leaving you unsure about what to teach or do. Similarly, when generating prompts for AI, it's crucial to include specific instructions, parameters, and actions to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Include definitive terms like “your task is” and “you must.”
For instance, if we wanted to enhance the STEM lesson plan example (check out the video example here), you might instruct your AI tool with additional details like:
"You must plan for 30 minutes of instructional time. Your task is to design a hands-on activity that demonstrates how triangles strengthen structures like bridges and buildings. Include clear objectives, a step-by-step guide, and two reflection questions to help students grasp the significance of triangles in design."
TRY IT! Add to your prompt using the suggested tips in your favorite generative AI tool and explore the results.
As you continue to explore the potential of generative AI, remember that effective AI literacy is key to unlocking its full capabilities. Knowing your role, understanding your audience, and clearly defining the task will significantly improve the quality of your AI-driven content. Thoughtful, detailed prompts can save time and create engaging, inclusive lessons tailored to students' needs.
Sources
- Bsharat, S. M., Myrzakhan, A., & Shen, Z. (2024). Principled Instructions Are All You Need for Questioning LLaMA-1/2, GPT-3.5/4 (arXiv:2312.16171). arXiv. http://arxiv.org/abs/2312.16171
- Klein, A. (2024, February 28). Does your district ban ChatGPT? Here’s what educators told us. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/technology/does-your-district-ban-chatgpt-heres-what-educators-told-us/2024/02
- Park, E., & Gelles-Watnick, R. (2023, August 28). Most Americans haven’t used ChatGPT; few think it will have a major impact on their job. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/08/28/most-americans-havent-used-chatgpt-few-think-it-will-have-a-major-impact-on-their-job/
