The Language of AI: E1 - Mastering Prompts for Efficient AI Use

Fellow Educators,

One of the most important aspects of using AI effectively is crafting the right prompts and understanding how to approach planning your interactions with AI. In a workshop I recently delivered, we touched on the SPARK framework, which emphasizes simplicity, precision, adaptability, reinforcement, and knowledge when interacting with AI.

Let’s explore that a bit further.

Here are three key principles for writing prompts:

1. Clarity: Make sure your instructions are crystal clear.
   Example: Instead of “What are good books?” try “What are three recommended books for high school students studying American history?”

2. Specificity: Be specific in your requests.
   Example: Instead of “Create a quiz,” try “Create a 10-question multiple-choice quiz on photosynthesis for 9th-grade biology students.”

3. Context: Providing background helps AI tailor responses.
   Example: “Generate a 500-word essay on the impact of the Industrial Revolution for a 10th-grade history class, focusing on technological advancements and social changes.”

Want to give it a try? I’ve attached a few ready-made prompts below. Use these to get started, and feel free to tweak them based on your needs.