Prompt Engineering Summary and Lesson Plan for Engineering Students

Objective: To introduce engineering students to the concept of Prompt Engineering (PE) and provide a foundational understanding of how to create effective engineering writing prompts.

Steps:

Understanding Prompt Engineering (PE) for Engineering (20 minutes): Begin by explaining what Prompt Engineering (PE) is in a comprehensive manner. PE is a systematic process used in engineering education to design and refine writing prompts or assignments that improve the quality of written work, especially in engineering-related contexts.

1. • Compare PE to designing a blueprint for a complex engineering project. Just as a well-crafted blueprint is crucial for the success of an engineering endeavor, PE helps us design clear and effective writing prompts that guide students in effectively addressing engineering challenges in their assignments.

   • Provide an example: Imagine you're teaching a structural engineering course. An effective prompt in this context would specify that students need to design a bridge using specific materials and dimensions, providing calculations for load-bearing capacity. This clear prompt ensures that students understand the task's expectations.

Importance of PE in Engineering Education (15 minutes): Emphasize why PE is particularly vital in engineering education. In engineering, precision, clarity, and adherence to guidelines are crucial. Effective prompts are essential for guiding students toward successfully addressing complex engineering problems in their assignments.

Analyzing Sample Engineering Prompts (20 minutes): Provide students with a set of sample engineering writing prompts or design challenges from various engineering disciplines, such as civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering. In groups, have them dissect and identify the key components of each prompt, including the problem statement, constraints, and desired outcomes.

Discussion on Engineering Writing Challenges (15 minutes): Engage the engineering students in a discussion about common challenges they've encountered in engineering writing prompts or design assignments. Use the following discussion prompts:

1.                   Can you recall an engineering assignment or prompt that you found particularly challenging? What aspects of the prompt made it difficult to approach?

2.                   Have you ever encountered an engineering prompt that lacked clarity or didn't align with the objectives of the task? How did it impact your approach to the assignment?

3.                   Conversely, can you think of an engineering prompt that was exceptionally clear and effective? How did it contribute to your understanding and success in the assignment?

4.                   What do you believe are the essential components of a well-crafted engineering writing prompt? What elements should it include to guide you effectively in addressing complex engineering problems?

5.                   How do you think understanding the concept of PE and applying it to engineering prompts can improve your problem-solving skills and overall engineering education?

Guided Prompt Engineering for Engineering (30 minutes): Present an engineering writing prompt or design challenge relevant to the course's objectives. Work together as a class to dissect the prompt and discuss its components. Collaboratively revise the prompt to make it clearer, more specific, and aligned with effective engineering problem-solving.

5. • Ineffective Prompt (Example): "Design a bridge."

Problems: This prompt is overly general, lacks constraints or specifications, and does not indicate what aspects of the bridge design to focus on.

5. • Properly Edited Prompt (Example): "Design a suspension bridge with a span of 300 meters using steel cables and concrete pillars. Calculate the maximum load it should withstand, and provide detailed drawings and calculations for the bridge's support structure."

Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the type of bridge, materials, span, and required calculations, making it clear and guiding students toward addressing the engineering challenges effectively.

Individual PE Practice for Engineering (20 minutes): Assign engineering students a challenging writing prompt or design task related to the course material. Have them apply what they've learned about PE to revise the prompt individually, making it more specific and aligned with effective engineering problem-solving practices.

Peer Review for Engineering Prompts (15 minutes): Have engineering students exchange their revised engineering prompts with peers. They can provide feedback on clarity, alignment with objectives, and potential improvements in addressing complex engineering problems.

Wrap-Up and Application (10 minutes): Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson and emphasize the importance of PE in engineering education. Encourage engineering students to apply these skills to real-world engineering challenges and assignments they may encounter in their academic and professional engineering careers.

Example Engineering Prompts:

1. Ineffective Prompt: Design a machine.

Problems: This prompt is overly vague and provides no guidance on the type of machine, its purpose, or any specific requirements.

Properly Edited Prompt: Design a compact and energy-efficient coffee bean grinder for home use. The grinder should produce a consistent grind size suitable for espresso machines and have a user-friendly interface.

Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the type of machine (coffee bean grinder), its purpose (home use, espresso grind), and key requirements (compact, energy-efficient, user-friendly).

2. Ineffective Prompt: Create a structure.

Problems: This prompt is too broad and doesn't specify the type of structure, materials, or any design considerations.

Properly Edited Prompt: Design a pedestrian bridge made of reinforced concrete to span 30 meters across a river. The bridge should accommodate both foot traffic and bicycles, meeting safety and accessibility standards.

Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the type of structure (pedestrian bridge), materials (reinforced concrete), span (30 meters), and design considerations (foot and bicycle traffic, safety, accessibility).

3. Ineffective Prompt: Solve a problem.

Problems: This prompt is exceedingly vague and doesn't provide any context or specific problem to address.

Properly Edited Prompt: Analyze and propose solutions for reducing energy consumption in a manufacturing facility by 20% within the next year. Consider changes in equipment, processes, and energy sources.

Improvements: The edited prompt defines the problem (reducing energy consumption), sets a specific target (20% reduction), and provides guidance on areas to consider (equipment, processes, energy sources).

4. Ineffective Prompt: Create a circuit.

Problems: This prompt lacks specificity and doesn't indicate the type of circuit, its purpose, or any required components.

Properly Edited Prompt: Design an analog electronic circuit to amplify audio signals from a microphone with minimal distortion. The circuit should have adjustable gain and be suitable for use in recording studios.

Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the type of circuit (analog audio amplifier), its purpose (amplifying audio signals), required features (adjustable gain), and application (recording studios).