AI essentials: Prompt engineering 101 — you are already proficient at using ChatGPT even if you don’t know it.
I keep hearing one big reason why people don’t engage with AI tools — they believe they need coding expertise to be able to effectively use these tools.
In the episode 35 of The AI Education Conversation, I am kicking off a series for our friends and colleagues who have yet to join the AI Education Party: AI Essentials.
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A couple times a month, I will post an additional episode of the AI Education Conversation, outside of our regular schedule, where I will walk through highly tactical, basic tips to help you learn more about the essentials of AI in a short period of time.
So let’s jump into our first essentials: Prompt engineering.
What the heck is prompt engineering?
Prompt engineering = fancy industry term that basically means the words you are putting in this search bar to instruct the AI chatbot to achieve whatever task you have instructed.
For many of our colleagues in education — teachers, principals, team leaders, counselors, coaches, advisors, and parents — you are already proficient at prompt engineering. You just don’t know it yet!
If I told you to give explicit instructions to your child or to a classroom of students to ensure they completed a task the way you wanted them to, you could do it with mastery level precision because you have learned how to do so through trial and error.
AI tools like ChatGPT value that same level of precision in instruction — instead of thinking about an arbitrary search bar, imagine ChatGPT was an enthusiastic intern or assistant you are working with — they want to please you, but they need guidance, clarity, and support first.
For a more specific example, check out the two prompts and outputs I receive from ChatGPT when asking it to create a 5th grade lesson plan on the civil war:
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Prompt: Provide me a lesson plan on the civil war for 5th graders
Response:
Creating a lesson plan on the Civil War for 5th graders involves breaking down complex historical events into simpler, age-appropriate concepts. Here’s a suggested lesson plan:
Lesson Plan: The Civil War for 5th Graders
Objective To provide students with a basic understanding of the key events, figures, and implications of the American Civil War.
Duration: Approximately 1 week (5 days, 1 hour each day)
Materials Needed:
1. Map of the United States during the Civil War era
2. Portraits of key figures (Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, etc.)
3. Documentary clips or interactive media on the Civil War
4. Excerpts from primary sources (speeches, letters)
5. Art supplies for creative projects
Day 1: Introduction to the Civil War
- Activity: Interactive map exploration showing Union and Confederate states.
- Discussion: Causes of the Civil War, focusing on slavery and states’ rights.
Day 2: Key Figures and Battles
- Activity: Group presentations on key figures and their roles.
- Discussion: Major battles and their outcomes (e.g., Gettysburg, Antietam).
Day 3: Daily Life During the Civil War
- Activity: Read letters from soldiers and civilians; watch a short documentary clip.
- Discussion: Impact on families, role of women, and life of a soldier.
Day 4: The End of the War and Emancipation
- Activity: Analyze the Emancipation Proclamation and its significance.
- Discussion: How the war ended, and the significance of the surrender at Appomattox Court House.
Day 5: Reflection and Creative Expression
- Activity: Create a Civil War diary entry, poster, or artwork.
- Discussion: How the Civil War shaped America’s future.
Assessment:
- Participation in discussions and activities.
- Group presentation on key figures and battles.
- Creative project reflecting their understanding of the Civil War.
Additional Notes:
- Ensure sensitivity when discussing topics like slavery and warfare.
- Encourage critical thinking by comparing historical perspectives.
- Incorporate multimedia resources for a more engaging experience.
This lesson plan is designed to be flexible and can be adjusted based on the specific needs and interests of the class.
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Now compare this output to my second prompt and response:
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Prompt: You are an expert in curriculum development for k-12 education. I am currently working through a unit with my fifth grade students around the civil war. I would like for you to design a lesson around the following objective: Identify the major military leaders and battles of the Civil War (e.g., Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Stonewall Jackson; Battles of Bull Run, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Appomattox). I would like this lesson to be 50 minutes long and include a key words and sentence stems section. I would also like the lesson to provide three different suggested activities for independent practice, one connection to the modern world, and two questions to check for understanding at the end of the lesson.
Response:
### Lesson Plan: Key Military Leaders and Battles of the Civil War
Grade Level: 5th Grade
Subject: Social Studies
Duration: 50 minutes
#### Objective
Students will identify and understand the roles of major military leaders and the significance of key battles in the Civil War.
#### Materials
1. Civil War Leaders and Battles Fact Sheets
2. Map of Civil War battles
3. Portraits of Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Stonewall Jackson
4. Interactive digital quiz or flashcards
5. Chart paper and markers
#### Key Words and Sentence Stems
- Key Words: Union, Confederacy, strategy, surrender, campaign, siege
- Sentence Stems:
- “The Battle of _____ was significant because…”
- “_____ was a leader for the _____ and is known for…”
#### Lesson Outline
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
- Introduce the major leaders: Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Stonewall Jackson.
- Show portraits and discuss a key fact about each leader.
- Briefly introduce the battles of Bull Run, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Appomattox.
2. Main Activity (25 minutes)
- Divide students into small groups.
- Each group is assigned a leader or battle to research using the fact sheets and map.
- Students create a short presentation using the sentence stems, highlighting why their leader or battle was significant.
3. Group Presentations (10 minutes)
- Groups take turns presenting their findings.
- Encourage questions and discussions among students.
4. Connection to the Modern World (5 minutes)
- Discuss how these leaders and battles are remembered today (monuments, memorials, history books).
- Talk about the concept of military leadership and strategy in current contexts.
Independent Practice Suggestions
1. Creative Writing: Write a diary entry from the perspective of a soldier under one of the discussed leaders during a specific battle.
2. Map Activity: Mark the locations of the major battles on a blank map of the United States and write a brief note on each battle’s outcome.
3. Role Play: Prepare and perform a short skit imagining a strategic meeting between one of the leaders and their advisors.
Check for Understanding
1. Question: Can you name two significant contributions or strategies of one of the Civil War leaders we discussed today?
2. Question: Why was the Battle of Gettysburg a turning point in the Civil War?
Assessment
- Participation in group discussions and presentations.
- Accuracy and creativity in independent practice activities.
- Responses to the check for understanding questions.
Teacher Notes
- Ensure that the discussions around battles and military strategies are age-appropriate.
- Highlight the human aspect of these leaders and soldiers to foster empathy and a deeper understanding of history.
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For my fellow AI enthusiasts: what other tips around prompting or using AI tools have you found helpful?
For a full analysis of each output, my quick recommendation for the best structure to get what you want using tools like ChatGPT, and for four other quick tips, check out the full episode.
I also reference Dr. Ethan Mollick’s blog post as a helpful guide to think through other prompting tactics.
