MODULE 5:

The Future of Work and AI Skills

AI SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE

Imagine you were asked to work on a project in your co-op or future job but your boss says you have to work with an AI tool to finish it. Would you trust it? Would it help you? Or would you worry about it replacing you?

MINDS ON

💡 Reflection

There are 9 employable skills that employers seek when looking to hire. AI is embedded in them all. Potentially it might become it's own skill. Regardless understanding how AI works and how to use it will be a key component in the workforce.

Things to consider:

Understanding how to use AI tools for creativity and efficiency
Using AI responsibly in school or co-op
Introduce prompt engineering and critical questioning

Record your answer in your Student WORKBOOK.

BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE TASK

Don’t just say, “Write about construction.” Instead, give the AI clear instructions about the task, the format, and the topic. Pretend you are asking an expert about that topic you don't want to know everything they know just the information that you need.

🚫 “Tell me about greenhouses.”
✅ “Create a monthly maintenance checklist for a hydroponic greenhouse in Ontario’s climate.”
→ (Green Industries SHSM)

🚫 “Help me design something.”
✅ “Generate five layout ideas for a compact ergonomic desk designed for home use by high school students.”
→ (Technological Design SHSM)

INCLUDE THE AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE

Tell the AI who it’s writing for or why. This helps the response match the tone or level you need.
The AI tool does not know who you are or what knowledge base you have so telling it more information about your understanding is good. If you were to talk to someone in industry they would know basic information based off of your age, that you are a student and that it is probably for school. The AI tool does not.

Here are some examples:
🚫 “Explain how brakes work.”
✅ “Explain how an anti-lock braking system works to a high school co-op student on their first day in a mechanic shop.”
→ (Transportation Technology SHSM)

🚫 “Describe a hairstyle.”
✅ “Describe a trending hairstyle suitable for prom season, including steps for styling it with tools available in a high school salon lab.”
→ (Hairstyling and Aesthetics SHSM)

This asks who is your audience and has 3 different audience, classroom, theatre and presentation

Photo of a computer with a spreadsheet and text that says Structure will give you the best results

GIVE IT STURCTURE AND FORMAT

If you know the kind of response you want—like a list, a paragraph, a script, or a chart—tell the AI!
Do you want a list, paragraph, chart, or script? Tell the AI how to respond.

🚫 “Give me info about welding safety.”
✅ “List five welding safety rules in point form with examples of what could go wrong if each is ignored.”
→ (Manufacturing Technology SHSM)

🚫 “Help me write about computer parts.”
✅ “Create a comparison chart of SSD vs HDD performance for gaming computers, including speed, durability, and cost.”
→ (Computer Technology SHSM)

ADD RELEVANT CONSTRAINTS AND DETAILS

You can include specific details like region, season, materials, or time limits. These help the AI give results that actually match your real-world task.

Include time limits, locations, materials, or themes to help the AI focus its answer.

🚫 “Make a meal plan.”
✅ “Create a 2-day meal plan for a high school cafeteria that is vegetarian, uses local ingredients, and follows Canada’s food guide.”
→ (Hospitality and Tourism SHSM)

🚫 “Tell me about how to wire a circuit.”
✅ “Explain how to wire a basic LED circuit with a switch using a breadboard and Arduino, written for someone new to electronics.”
→ (Communications Technology / TEJ SHSM)

Photo has the same title and is of a sticky note with question marks around it

This is of a robot thinking and the title is the same for this section: Double check your responses from AI

AI can't think for you, so always double check the responses you get from any AI tools.

ALWAYS REVIEW WHAT YOU GET

Even a perfect prompt doesn’t guarantee perfect results. AI can still make mistakes, leave out details, or make things up. Always review the output carefully and ask:

Does this make sense?
Is anything missing or biased?
Would I trust this in the real world?

Always double-check the AI’s answer with your own knowledge, a teacher, an employer or a trusted source.

The better your prompt, the better your results. That means you’re in control of how AI works for you—whether you're designing a new product, building something in the shop, analyzing data, or prepping for a co-op.

Writing clear prompts isn’t just a digital skill—it’s a career-ready communication tool that shows you can lead, think critically, and solve problems in the real world.

Challenge Your Prompt

Take a look at the scenarios below. Select one to write an AI prompt about. Using one of the AI tools you have learned test out the prompt and rate how successful your prompt was in your WORKBOOK.

Select one of the scenerios on the posters and then answer the question in your notebook.

Alt TEXT: All images are decorative

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