Effective AI prompts are all about clarity and context. Think of the AI tool as a super-smart but very literal student teacher on their first day of the semester. You need to be specific and provide plenty of background.
Remember, AI isn't a search engine. It responds best to natural language, so write in complete sentences and be more precise than you would with Google. It's also important to avoid negative commands ("Don't do X").
AI prompt engineering is all about iteration. Don't be afraid to:
- Experiment with different phrasings
- Refine your prompt based on the AI's response
- Ask for clarification
- Ask the AI for help with improving the prompt
- Ask the AI to slow down and think (yes, really!)
Avoid these common prompt engineering pitfalls:
- Vague or ambiguous instructions. Don't tell it to write a paragraph when you really want an email. Be crystal clear about exactly what you need.
- Overcomplicating prompts. Keep it simple and to the point.
- Technical jargon without explanation. Spell out all those acronyms that run your teaching life.
- Task overload. Asking AI to create a lesson plan and plan a field trip in one prompt is not going to work! One thing at a time, please.
Learn More
Ready to try prompt engineering? Great! Check out ideas in the Prompt Library for K-12 Educators or review the How to Craft a Good Prompt.
The best way to learn is to simply try for yourself. Have a conversation! Play! Ask questions. See what you can learn and discover, and hopefully have some fun doing it.
