Artificial Intelligence

By now, I hope that all educators are using the free tool ChatGPT (or a similar product) to save time, brainstorm ideas, and get help when you’re stuck. These AI chatbots are really amazing and get better every day. And whether you’re using Bard, Bing, Claude 2, the AI resources in Google Workspace, or any other chatbot tool, they all work in about the same way. That means once you have the basic tips and tricks of ChatGPT prompts down, you can be a master of all of them!

Things to Remember about ChatGPT and Chatbots

But to make sure that you are getting the results you want from your chatbot prompts, keep these important ideas in mind:

• AI is a little like a mirror: it will reflect exactly what you put into it. If you put in bland or boring or unclear prompts, you’ll get bland or boring or unclear responses. More thought is required to make the prompt give you what you really need. (GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out)
• Chatbots can occasionally generate incorrect or biased information.
• If the chatbot doesn’t understand what you want, it will ask questions.
• If it doesn’t provide what you want, tweak the prompt to ask again in a different way. 
• Two users entering the same prompt will not necessarily receive the same response.

Tips for Effective ChatGPT Prompts

Keeping those ideas in mind will ensure that the chatbot responses you get back are what you asked for. But there are some additional tricks for creating effective prompts for chatbots. These require that, like any technology tool, you’ve thought through what you really want, how you want it (format), the tone you want the response to have, and more.

Check out these tips for effective chatbot prompts: 

• Use tone modifiers (see this tone modifiers chart).
• If you don’t like the results of your prompt, you can use the “Improve” command. “I am going to give you an instruction. After receiving your response, I can write “improve” or “approved.” If I say “improve,” you should try to enhance the quality of your response by referring to the best examples from professionals you know in the field. Let me know who you are trying to mimic. My original instruction is as follows: [prompt].
• Remember that you can use ChatGPT itself to create the best prompts. “Act as a prompt generator for ChatGPT. I will state what I want, and you will engineer a prompt that will yield the best and most desirable response from ChatGPT. Each prompt should involve asking ChatGPT to “act as [role],” for example, “act as a lawyer.” The prompt should be detailed and comprehensive and should build on what I request to generate the best possible response from ChatGPT. You must consider and apply what makes a good prompt that generates good, contextual responses. Don’t just repeat what I request, improve and build upon my request so that the final prompt will yield the best, most useful and favorable response. Place any variables in square brackets. Here is the prompt I want: [Desired prompt] – A prompt that will … Ex: A prompt that will generate a marketing copy that will increase conversions.”
• Finally, you can use an AI prompt generator like PromptBot. This is a free tool that simplifies the process of creating detailed, powerful prompts for GPT-based bots.

Useful ChatGPT Prompts for Instructional Coaches

To help you get started, here are some prompts written especially for instructional coaches. Modify them as you need to.

• I want to get better at [insert skill]. I am a beginner and have no prior experience. Create a 30-day plan for me to learn [insert skill] from scratch.
• Create a beginner’s guide to using [ChatGPT] for [elementary teachers]. Topics should include [?, ?, and ?]. Include examples where necessary. The guide should be no longer than 500 words.
• Write an email reminding teachers about our upcoming literacy team meeting on [insert date]. [include other details]
• Your role is that of a problem solver. Give me a step-by-step guide to solving [insert your problem].
• Summarize the text below into 500 words or less. Create sections for each important point with a brief summary of that point.” [insert text]
• Write a lesson plan for ninth grade students struggling with reading Romeo and Juliet. Include the use of [Chromebooks] through accessing at least two age-appropriate, relevant websites. Include questions for students to answer from those two websites about the play.
• List [five literacy station] ideas for [first grade students struggling with main idea]. Align it to this standard [TEKS ???].
• What are some fun icebreaker activities for high school teachers that are short [less than five minutes long] and [do not require extra equipment or materials]. Make sure these have a [fall] theme.
• I need some tips on developing an effective and inexpensive cybersecurity training strategy that will address the needs of my [school district or organization].
• What promotes [student engagement]? Identify articles from trusted sources over the past three years that deal with this subject.
• I’m an [instructional coach at a high school]. Create a comprehensive list of effective prompts tailored to amplify productivity and time management abilities for professionals in my industry, empowering them to achieve greater task efficiency and drive results.
• You are an [instructional coach] specializing in [digital teacher and learning]. Your task is to create a [worksheet for college professors] that includes [exercises for practicing with ChatGPT], [tips for the best prompts for ChatGPT], and [reflection questions].
• Celebrate a co-worker with this prompt. “Compose a congratulatory message to [co-worker name] for their recent [work anniversary or accomplishment], providing a sincere acknowledgment of their contributions and expressing appreciation for their hard work. [additional details you’d like to mention]
• Design a 30-minute professional development session for middle school math teachers on using [MathWhiteboard]. Base it on these standards [TEKS for middle school math]. Include a hook to get them engaged, at least one collaborative activity, and a reflection.
• Write a funny software tool description in a conversational tone that clearly explains key features and benefits of using [product URL or description] with [kindergarten students]. This description should get [kindergarten teachers] interested in using the tool.
• I am looking to increase open rates for my [monthly instructional technology enewsletter for campus principals]. Give me a list of 10 persuasive email subject lines on current hot topics that will increase the open rate.
• Create social media content for seven days that is focused on [topic] and that will engage [target audience]. Instructions: Create social media content that is appropriate for the chosen topic and target audience. Content should be varied. Content should also include calls to action that encourage users to engage with the content, such as likes, shares, and comments.
• You are an [instructional coach] preparing for [a hands-on workshop on Canva for elementary librarians]. Your task is to create a [template] that includes [icebreaker activities], [goal-setting exercises], and [action planning].
• Help me create a personalized plan for [teacher’s name] to achieve their goal of improving [using Chromebooks for writing for fourth grade students], including key milestones such as [learning to use Google Docs for research, using Google Docs to create an outline, and using Google Docs for editing].
• Create the slides for a [one-hour virtual, self-paced training course] on how to use [ChatGPT and other AI tools] as a [12^th grade English teacher]. Include tips on what to emphasize on each slide.
• Convert Excel files into visual charts by uploading your Excel file into ChatGPT and turning on Code Interpreter mode. Then use the following prompt: Analyze the spreadsheet I’ve uploaded and generate charts to visualize the data. (Note that this prompt requires a paid ChatGPT subscription.)
• Combine spreadsheets. Enable Code Interpreter Mode in ChatGPT. Upload a spreadsheet. Then use the following prompt: Combine the data from the two spreadsheets and generate one spreadsheet with all of the data. (Note that this prompt requires a paid ChatGPT subscription.)

While you don’t have to be a “prompt engineer” to be successful with ChatGPT and other chatbots, you do have to follow a few simple rules and think out what you really want to get back. If you are looking for prompts for classroom teachers, be sure to check out ChatGPT Prompts for Busy Educators and Prompts for Lesson Planning with ChatGPT. Happy prompting!

Since just before the dawn of the 21^st century, advances in digital technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI), have triggered the need for innovative changes in the physical, communicative, and epistemic structures of classrooms and learning environments. With the realization that teaching and learning could happen anywhere, instructors began to transform their pedagogies to be more reflexive by: 

• Flipping the Classroom 
• Providing Online Discussions 
• Integrating Multimedia Content
• Personalizing Lectures 
• Delivering Real-time Feedback 
• Cultivating Collaborative Intelligence
• Offering Blended Learning 
• Supplying Accessible Learning Materials
• Harnessing Data-driven Insights
• Embracing Continuous Assessment 
• Promoting Equity-Minded Teaching 

Likewise, as of 2023, we as educators find ourselves adapting to advancements in new and disruptive digital technologies like generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT). Its expansive capabilities mean students can potentially use ChatGPT to complete traditional homework assignments, from simple math problems to crafting detailed research papers, all without necessarily understanding or engaging with the underlying academic content. 

This advance in digital technology poses both an opportunity and a challenge for educators. While this technology can be an incredible resource for deepening understanding and expanding horizons, it also calls into question the very nature of traditional assignments and assessments. Let’s explore an important question and actionable steps for addressing this question as we move into the generative AI era of education: How do we ensure authenticity and true learning in an age where information, and even synthesized knowledge, is at our fingertips? 

What Is an AI-Integrated Authentic Assignment?

The rise of advanced AI systems, like generative AI, further underscores the need for authentic tasks. As these systems can easily replicate routine tasks, the focus in education now shifts even more towards fostering skills that AI can’t easily replace. Authentic tasks, with their emphasis on human-centric skills, gained further importance in this context. Before looking at actionable steps for harnessing the power of AI while ensuring meaningful learning, I propose an updated definition of authentic assignments that incorporates generative AI as an authentic teaching tool: 

Actionable Steps to Take

Innovations in generative AI call for innovative responses as this technology further changes the role of instructors and students and the skills that advance them. Let’s look at innovative responses to recent advances in generative AI. 

1. Include Generative AI in Teaching and Learning Activities:

• Integrate generative AI tools like ChatGPT as a resource in the classroom.
• Encourage students to use AI for research, brainstorming, and problem solving, while emphasizing its role as a tool to aid understanding, not replace it.

2. Build a Culture of Integrity Around Generative AI:

• Educate both educators and students about the responsible use of AI.
• Emphasize the importance of using AI as a supplement to learning, rather than a shortcut to complete assignments without understanding the material.

3. Develop Policies and Guidelines:

• Establish clear policies and guidelines for the use of generative AI in educational settings.
• Define the boundaries of AI usage to maintain academic integrity.
• Address issues such as plagiarism, proper citation of AI-generated content, and consequences for misuse.

4. Implement AI Detection Software, but Know Your Students:

• Utilize AI detection tools designed to identify AI-generated or plagiarized content.
• Regularly check assignments and projects to ensure they meet academic standards and authenticity.

5. Redesign Assignments for Authenticity:

• Rethink traditional assignments to align them with authentic learning experiences.
• Design assignments that require problem solving, creativity, and real-world application, areas where AI may be less capable.

6. Foster Critical Thinking and Ethical Decision-Making:

• Emphasize the importance of critical thinking and ethical decision-making alongside AI integration.
• Encourage students to question and evaluate the information provided by AI tools.
• Create assignments that require students to reflect on the ethical implications of AI usage in their field of study.
• Include multi-step components that occur over time and space to simulate real-world applications.
• Incorporate continuous assessment components, making learning deeper and richer, while creating assignments that are less prone to generative AI abuse. 

7. Offer Training and Professional Development:

• Provide training and workshops for educators to learn about AI technologies and how to effectively integrate them into teaching.
• Share best practices and case studies of successful AI integration in education.

8. Promote Collaboration and Peer Learning:

• Encourage collaborative projects and peer learning experiences where students can collectively engage with AI tools and share insights.
• Facilitate discussions and group activities that encourage critical discussions about AI-generated content.

9. Engage in Research and Evaluation:

• Encourage educators to conduct research on the impact of generative AI in education.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of AI-integrated assignments and make data-driven improvements.

10. Collaborate with AI Developers:

• Foster partnerships with AI developers and organizations to ensure AI tools align with educational goals and values.
• Provide feedback to AI developers to improve the educational utility of AI systems.

11. Stay Informed and Adaptive:

• Continuously monitor advancements in AI technology and their implications for education.
• Be open to adapting teaching strategies and policies in response to changing technological landscapes.

As instructors, we are seeing a significant shift in the needs of teaching and learning, acknowledging to ourselves that traditional assignments, assessments, and activities based on low-level thinking skills and the recall of information lack relevance and effectiveness. Let’s continue to transform pedagogy and leverage technological advancements like generative AI to push students to deeper learning, critical thinking, creativity, and more.

Interested in learning more about AI in education? Don’t miss David’s session at the 2024 TCEA Convention & Exposition in Austin, Texas! He will be leading “Beating ChatGPT with ChatGPT: AI-Enhanced Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Design” on Sunday, February 4.