Faculty and Staff Repository

Creating effective prompts for AI tools is similar to crafting well-designed educational assignments. Each component serves a specific purpose and contributes to generating more useful and accurate responses. This guide breaks down the key elements of a successful educational prompt and explains how to combine them for optimal results.

1. Role Definition

Begin by specifying the role or perspective you want the AI to adopt. This sets the tone and expertise level of the response.

Example: "As an experienced biology professor teaching first-year undergraduate students..."

2. Context Setting

Provide relevant background information about the educational scenario, including student level, subject area, and any specific circumstances.

Example: "In an introductory calculus course where students are struggling with the concept of limits..."

3. Task Specification

Clearly state what you want the AI to do, using specific action verbs and deliverables.

Example: "Create a detailed lesson plan that includes three concrete examples and two hands-on activities..."

4. Parameters and Constraints

Define any limitations, requirements, or specific formats you need the AI to follow.

Example: "The explanation should be suitable for a 50-minute class period and include visual aids that can be drawn on a whiteboard."

1. Learning Objectives

Include specific learning outcomes you want to achieve. This helps the AI align its response with your pedagogical goals.

Example: "Students should be able to identify and explain three key factors influencing climate change..."

2. Differentiation Requirements

Specify how the content should be adapted for different learning needs or levels.

Example: "Include modifications for visual learners and ESL students..."

3. Assessment Criteria

Define how student success will be measured or evaluated.

Example: "Include three formative assessment checkpoints and a rubric for the final project..."

Role: "As a [subject] educator teaching [level] students..."

Context: "In a course covering [topic], where students [background/situation]..."

Task: "Create/Develop/Design [specific deliverable]..."

Parameters: "The [deliverable] should include [specific elements] and follow [format/requirements]..."

Learning Objectives: "Students should be able to [measurable outcomes]..."

Differentiation: "Include adaptations for [specific student needs]..."

Assessment: "Incorporate [evaluation methods] to measure [specific outcomes]..."

Being Too Vague: "Create a lesson plan" vs. "Create a 50-minute lesson plan for introducing photosynthesis to 9th-grade biology students"
Omitting Context: Failing to specify student level, prior knowledge, or learning environment
Unclear Objectives: Not defining what success looks like or how it will be measured
Overlooking Constraints: Not specifying time limits, resource availability, or technical requirements

Start with your learning objectives and work backward to design your prompt
Use clear, specific language and avoid ambiguous terms
Include examples of both what you want and what you don't want
Test your prompts before using them with students
Iterate and refine based on the responses you receive

Creating effective educational prompts is a skill that improves with practice. Remember that the most successful prompts are those that clearly communicate your educational objectives while providing enough structure for the AI to generate useful, relevant content. Start with the basic components and gradually incorporate more advanced elements as you become comfortable with the process.

Faculty and Staff AI Resource Repository

The Anatomy of an Effective Educational Prompt