AI Prompting Guidelines
In the age of generative AI, professionals across industries are leveraging tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and others to boost productivity and creativity. A recent survey found 78% of organizations use AI in at least one business function, illustrating how widespread this trend has become. Below, we provide an industry-by-industry overview of how prompting can be applied, guidelines for effective prompts, and example prompts (with recommended AI tools, difficulty level, and expected outcomes).
Education AI Prompting Guidelines
Industry Overview
Educators and students are turning to AI prompts for assistance in lesson planning, content explanation, and study support. Almost half of U.S. teachers and K-12 students reported using ChatGPT on a weekly basis in 2024, showcasing how prevalent AI has become in the classroom. From creating quiz questions to simplifying complex topics, prompting can enhance learning experiences when used responsibly and creatively.
Prompting Guidelines
- Specify Grade Level/Learning Level: Mention the student age or grade (or knowledge level) so the AI can tailor the complexity of its explanation or content.
- Encourage Interactive Output: For example, prompt for quiz questions, discussion prompts, or problems rather than just passive text.
- Accuracy and Clarity: Emphasize that explanations should be clear and correct. If needed, ask the AI to provide examples or analogies to aid understanding.
- Use Educational Standards: When relevant, reference curriculum standards or learning objectives in the prompt (e.g., "following Common Core standard for math…").
- Promote Critical Thinking: Encourage the AI to include open-ended questions or activities that get students thinking, not just memorizing content.
Example Prompts
"Create a lesson plan outline for a 45-minute class on [Topic] for 8th-grade students, including objectives, activities, and assessment methods."
"Explain the concept of [Scientific/Math Concept] in simple terms appropriate for a 12-year-old, and give a real-world example."
"Generate 5 multiple-choice quiz questions (with answers) to test knowledge of [History Topic] at a high school level."
"Provide three discussion questions to ask college students after they read [Literature Work], focusing on themes and character development."
"Draft a polite reminder email to parents about the upcoming field trip to [Destination], including what students need to bring."