Effective Prompting for Educators

Yesterday we had the pleasure of working with leaders and teachers from L’Anse Creuse School District outside of Detroit for one of our Train-the-Trainer Institutes. We had a great time digging into all things GenAI!

Our 1-day institute focuses on two key PD sessions: Introduction to Generative AI for Educators and Prompting 101. We work to upskill the new trainers on foundational concepts of GenAI, before equipping them with strategies to turnkey this work in their school.

In our Prompting 101 session we focus on strategies for getting the best out of popular and powerful free GenAI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

What's great is there are many different prompt frameworks out there for educators to use - including our 5S Framework: Set the scene (priming), be Specific, Simplify language, Structure output, and Share feedback.

We also break down a good prompting in the following four steps:

1. Clarity is Key

Explicitly state what you would like the model to do. The more specific your prompt, the more accurate and tailored the AI's response will be. General prompts will result in general responses

2. Pick the Right Prompting Technique

You may be able to get what you need from one well-structured prompt (one-shot prompting), but there are other techniques too. You can provide examples in your prompt to guide the AI's responses (few-shot prompting), or cut down your requests into steps (chain-of-thought prompting).

3. Provide Context

The chatbot is called a "context window" for a reason! Give AI as much necessary background information as possible. This will help it prepare a response that fits your needs.

4. Format Matters

A well-structured prompt guides the AI in understanding the exact nature of your request. Use clear and direct language, and structure your prompt logically.

So what does that look like in practice for a one-shot prompt? An OK prompt for educators might look like this:

“Create a lesson plan about multiplying fractions for 5th graders”

A better prompt would look like:

“Act as an expert mathematician and a teacher skilled in designing engaging learning experiences for upper elementary students. Design a lesson plan about multiplying fractions for 5th grade students.”

And an even more effective prompt would be:

“You are an expert mathematician and teacher skilled in Universal Design for Learning. Design an accessible lesson plan about multiplying fractions for 5th grade students interested in soccer. The lesson should include a hands-on activity and frequent opportunities for collaboration. Format your response in a table.”

We take this approach every time we create on of our more than 100 customizable prompts in our Prompt Library.