Faculty and Staff AI Resource Repository

AI for Student Engagement: Discussion Prompts and Activities

Transform classroom discussions using AI-enhanced prompts and activities.

Learn how to use AI to create engaging discussion prompts and activities that spark meaningful student participation and deeper learning outcomes.

Transform your classroom discussions and activities from predictable to powerful using AI as your creative assistant. Here's how to generate engaging content that sparks meaningful student participation.


Use AI to create scenario-based discussion prompts that connect course concepts to real-world situations. Input your topic and ask for prompts that require critical thinking and application. For example, instead of "Discuss supply and demand," get AI to generate a complex market scenario that students must analyze using course principles.


Generate "what if" scenarios that challenge assumptions. Have AI create alternative historical outcomes, hypothetical scientific scenarios, or ethical dilemmas related to your subject matter. These prompts encourage deeper thinking and more engaging debates than traditional discussion questions.


Create role-playing exercises where students must approach problems from different perspectives. AI can help develop detailed character profiles, situation backgrounds, and specific challenges for each role, making the exercise more immersive and meaningful.


Develop progressive discussion chains where each student's response must build on previous contributions. AI can help create interconnected prompt sequences that encourage students to think more deeply about their peers' responses.


Remember to review and adjust AI-generated prompts to ensure they align with your learning objectives and class level. The best prompts often combine AI creativity with your expert knowledge of your students' interests and capabilities.

AI can help create more engaging and meaningful classroom discussions by generating diverse scenarios, role-playing exercises, and interconnected prompts. Success lies in combining AI's creative capabilities with your pedagogical expertise.