A prompt is the instructions that we give AI. While you can start with a broad request and refine the prompt with new instructions, this process can be time-consuming and requires checking each new response for updates. The more specific we are in the information we provide in the initial prompt, the better the initial result will match our expectations. Limiting the assumptions we require the AI to make can significantly enhance the results.
To craft a great starting prompt, we suggest trying to SPLAT:
Speaker - Ask the AI to take on a persona.
Purpose / Product - Be specific about what you want or don’t want!
Length - How much information do you want?
Audience - Who is this response intended for?
Tone - Do you want a formal tone? Friendly?
The AI Prompt Library consists of prompts that can be copied/pasted to ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini (or any other chatbot of your choice) and adjusted to meet individual needs.
Consider these prompts as an initial guide. The more nuanced information you share during your conversation with AI models, the more tailored and effective the AI-generated solutions will be. Treat your AI responses as a starting point, encouraging further refinement, editing, and collaborative input to achieve your desired outcomes.
Rewrite text following user-given instructions or other text, with a different tone, audience, or style
Use AI to generate explanations and examples catered to students' interests
Generate questions to gauge student understanding in the moment
Offer students different ways to show mastery of content
Generate a lesson plan that relies on existing resources with specific objectives, standards, pre and post-assessments, accommodations, and time.
Providing structured supports and guidance for all students to access and successfully master content.
Provide a data set and ask the AI to look for trends and actionable steps to take based on the data.
Draft emails that share a message in a positive, professional, and effective manner.
Provide a draft of feedback to student work based on a rubric with personalized feedback.
Promote student communication of understanding and interaction with academic vocabulary.
Change the format of a multiple choice question to an interactive respose type.
Generate questions from a stimulus such as a reading passage, notes, article, or video transcript.
Create guided / fill in the blank notes from an outline or slides presentation
Generate a rubric to fit an assignment or project.
Canvas Rubrics Option:
As an [expert Biology teacher], create a rubric that evaluates students' mastery of the following standard: [Analyze and evaluate how evidence of common ancestry among groups is provided by the fossil record, biogeography, and homologies, including anatomical, molecular, and developmental] while answering a variety of questions. The rubric categories should focus on [the student’s understanding of the standard rather than the specific activity they select from the choice board]. Generate the rubric in a table format that includes the following columns for each criterion: Criteria Name: A concise title for the rubric category. Criteria Description: A detailed explanation of what is being evaluated. Criteria Enable Range: Set to False (indicating no range-based scoring). Rating Name (Proficiency Levels): Two levels: Full Credit and No Credit. Rating Description (Proficiency Details): A description of what constitutes "Full Credit" and "No Credit" for each criterion. Rating Points: The points assigned to each proficiency level (e.g., 1 for Full Credit, 0 for No Credit). The output must be structured as a CSV format that matches the following structure: Rubric Name,Criteria Name,Criteria Description,Criteria Enable Range,Rating Name,Rating Description,Rating Points,Rating Name,Rating Description,Rating Points,Rating Name,Rating Description,Rating Points Rubric 1,Criteria 1,Criteria 1 Description,false,Rating 1,Rating 1 Description,2,Rating 2,Rating 2 Description,1,Rating 3,Rating 3 Description,0 Rubric 1,Criteria 2,Criteria 2 Description,false,Criteria 2 Rating 1,Rating Description,1,Criteria 2 Rating 2,Rating 2 Description,1 Do not include any additional information outside of the contents of the csv file. Generate the CSV file so that I can download itCommunicating expectations for the appropriate level of AI use before students begin working on an assignment ensures that there is no misunderstanding of what is acceptable when completing work.
Printable PDF version of this graphic for use in classrooms
Editable version of this graphic for customization
Implementing strategies such as in-class writing, conferencing, embedding independent activities, reinforcing the value of writing, modeling AI use, and clear communication helps students develop writing skills without over relying on AI tools.
Sample Student Agreement to use for discussion when reviewing AI use when completing assignments or tasks. Be sure to discuss with students the appropriate citation of AI when it is used for the completion of assignments.
A mini-lesson for secondary students on appropriate use of AI.
Eric Curts, Instructional Technology Specialist and author of the ControlAltAchieve.com blog, demonstrates AI's ability to encourage critical thinking is the "Debate an AI" activity. Learn how to create the prompt and directions for this activity.
Let Eric Curts, Instructional Technology Specialist and author of the ControlAltAchieve.com blog, walk us through the topics above. He gives us practical ideas that you can use immediately! Link to the Google Slides Presentation, Link to the Agenda Document, Webinar Video Link
AI guide to help students use AI appropriately and ethically with explanations and prompting strategies for tutoring assistance, structuring their writing, revision help, and more.