Faculty and Staff Repository

Discussion prompts are essential tools for engaging students in meaningful dialogue and critical thinking. With the integration of AI tools, we have new opportunities to enhance these discussions while ensuring they remain authentic and student-centered. This guide explores how to create effective discussion prompts that thoughtfully incorporate AI while maintaining the human elements that make discussions valuable.

1. Open-Ended Nature

Design prompts that cannot be answered with a simple yes/no or by copying from AI responses.

Instead of: "What are the main causes of the Great Depression?" Try: "How might modern economic safeguards have altered the course of the Great Depression? Use AI to research specific safeguards, but develop your own analysis of their potential impact."

2. Personal Connection

Include elements that require students to relate the topic to their own experiences or observations.

Example: "After using AI to research global perspectives on sustainable urban development, compare these approaches with sustainability initiatives in your own community. What unique local factors influence their effectiveness?"

3. Critical Analysis

Encourage students to evaluate and synthesize information from multiple sources, including AI-generated content.

Example: "Generate three different AI perspectives on climate change solutions, then critically analyze the assumptions underlying each approach. Which elements resonate with your understanding of the issue and why?"

1. Comparative Analysis

Template: "Use AI to research [perspective A] and [perspective B] on [topic]. Then, develop your own position that either aligns with, challenges, or synthesizes these viewpoints. Support your position with specific evidence and reasoning."

2. Problem-Solving Scenarios

Template: "Using AI, identify three potential solutions to [real-world problem]. Evaluate each solution's feasibility in your local context, considering resources, constraints, and community factors that AI might not account for."

3. Ethical Dilemmas

Template: "After using AI to explore various ethical frameworks related to [issue], analyze how different cultural or professional perspectives might approach this dilemma. What additional factors should be considered beyond the AI's analysis?"

Research Enhancement

Use AI to gather initial background information
Generate multiple perspectives on complex topics
Identify potential counterarguments

Discussion Facilitation

Create follow-up questions based on student responses
Generate examples to clarify complex concepts
Identify connections between student contributions

Critical Thinking Support

Analyze assumptions in AI-generated responses
Compare AI perspectives with human experiences
Evaluate the limitations of AI-generated viewpoints

Science

"Use AI to explore current theories about dark matter. Then, propose a new research question that addresses gaps in these theories, explaining why your question might lead to meaningful insights."

Literature

"Generate AI interpretations of the symbolism in [specific passage]. Then, develop your own interpretation that either challenges or builds upon these analyses, supporting your view with textual evidence."

Business

"Use AI to analyze successful startup strategies in your industry. What local or current factors might make these strategies more or less effective in your specific market?"

Setting Clear Expectations

Specify how AI tools should be used in research and response development
Establish guidelines for citing AI-generated content
Define criteria for evaluating responses that incorporate AI insights

Facilitating Meaningful Dialogue

Encourage students to build upon and challenge AI-generated insights
Promote connections between different student perspectives
Guide students in identifying limitations of AI analyses

Over-reliance on AI: Ensure prompts require original thinking beyond AI-generated content
Narrow Focus: Avoid questions that can be completely answered by AI alone
Lack of Context: Provide sufficient background information for meaningful discussion
Limited Application: Include opportunities to connect concepts to real-world situations

Effective AI-enhanced discussion prompts should:

Encourage critical thinking beyond AI-generated responses
Foster personal connections to the material
Promote meaningful dialogue between students
Balance AI utilization with original analysis
Support diverse perspectives and approaches

Faculty and Staff AI Resource Repository

Creating Effective Discussion Prompts