megaprompts Archives • TechNotes Blog

Working with ChatGPT and other AI tools can often feel like you’re a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. But there is another trick you may want to practice and learn: how to create your own custom GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) using ChatGPT Plus, the paid version of ChatGPT. A custom GPT is a tailored version of the original ChatGPT model that has been modified to serve specific purposes. Let’s take a look at the process for making a custom GPT.

Why make your own GPT?

One of the reasons you might want to make a custom GPT is that it can be helpful to have an assistant. For example, I would love to have an assistant to help me with applying critical thinking processes to claims of pseudoscience. Here are a few other possible reasons why K-16 educators might consider making a custom GPT:

Reason	Description
Personalized Learning	Custom GPTs can be designed to adapt to the learning pace and style of individual students, offering personalized feedback, explanations, and support. This personalization helps in catering to diverse learning needs and abilities within a classroom.
Curriculum Integration	Educators can tailor a custom GPT to align with specific curriculum standards and learning outcomes. This ensures that the AI tool is directly relevant to the subjects being taught and supports educational standards.
Engagement and Motivation	Custom GPTs can be programmed with interactive elements, gamification, and scenario-based learning activities that engage students more effectively than traditional teaching methods. This can increase student motivation and interest in the subject matter.
Assessment and Feedback	A custom GPT can automate the assessment process by providing instant feedback on assignments and quizzes, allowing educators to track progress more efficiently and students to understand their learning gaps immediately.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving	Educators can design GPTs to challenge students with complex problems and scenarios that require critical thinking, encouraging deeper engagement with the material and the development of problem-solving skills.
Accessibility and Inclusion	Custom GPTs can be developed to include accessibility features for students with disabilities, ensuring that educational content is accessible to all learners, thus promoting inclusivity.
Language Learning	For language educators, custom GPTs can offer conversational practice, grammar correction, and vocabulary building tailored to the proficiency level of the learner, enhancing language acquisition.
Content Creation	Educators can use custom GPTs to generate educational content, such as lesson plans, reading materials, and exam questions, saving time and resources while ensuring content relevance and variety.
Professional Development	Custom GPTs can serve as a tool for educator professional development, providing resources, teaching strategies, and content knowledge updates in their field of teaching.
Research and Innovation	Educators involved in educational research and innovation can use custom GPTs to explore new teaching methodologies, conduct experiments, and gather data on learning outcomes and engagement strategies.

Note: This list was generated by ChatGPT.

Of the items on this list, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and Professional Development are two areas of interest for me. Let’s start by exploring existing GPTs. Then, you’ll prepare to make your own, setting goals for what you want it to do. No coding is required! First, let’s take a moment to define terms before getting started with a how-to.

Defining Terms

Here are some vocabulary terms you need to be familiar with, and you might refer back to them from time to time.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): The broader field of computer science focuses on creating machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): A subset of AI that deals with the interaction between computers and humans through natural language. It enables machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language.
Fine-tuning: The process of taking a pre-trained model and continuing the training on a more specific dataset to specialize its knowledge or capabilities.
ChatGPT: A variant of the GPT model designed specifically for generating human-like conversational responses.
Custom GPT: A version of ChatGPT that has been fine-tuned or customized for specific tasks, industries, or applications.
API (Application Programming Interface): A set of protocols and tools for building software and applications, which can be used to enhance the capabilities of a custom GPT by allowing it to interact with other software and services.
Model Training: The process of teaching an AI model to make predictions or perform a task by exposing it to data.
Dataset: A collection of data that an AI model is trained on, which can include text, images, or other types of information.
Prompt Engineering: The art of crafting prompts that effectively communicate a task to an AI model, such as a custom GPT, to elicit the desired response.

Now that you are aware of some of the terms you might encounter, let’s begin.

Explore Existing Custom GPTs

How to access custom GPTs in ChatGPT Plus

Before beginning, take a few moments to access custom GPTs in ChatGPT Plus. As you can see above, they are easy to find. Several of my favorite custom GPTs include:

AlphaNotes. Transform YouTube videos or web articles into your personal study guide or study aids, making learning efficient and enjoyable.
Blended Learning Guide. Expert advice on how to balance the virtual with the traditional mode of teaching.
Canva. Effortlessly design anything: presentations, logos, social media posts, and more.
Data Analyst. Drop in any files and it can help you analyze and visualize your data.
Diagrams Show Me. Create diagrams, architecture visualizations, flow charts, mind maps, schemes, and more. Great for coding, presentations, and code documentation. Export and Edit your diagram for free!
PDF AI PDF. Securely store and chat with ALL your PDFs for FREE! AI PDF powers more than 600,000 chats with professionals and researchers. It includes a free myaidrive.com storage account. The pro version can search folders with thousands of files and extract titles, authors, and more!
Prompt Professor. This tool knows everything about prompt engineering.
VideoMaker by Invideo AI. Generate stunning narrated videos effortlessly with this VideoMaker videoGPT!
Travel Agent AI. This tool provides expert travel planning advice, ensuring safe, enjoyable, and economically efficient trips, tailored to individual preferences.

You can find others for recipes, presentation slide makers, writing tools, and more. Give them a spin before asking yourself, “Why not take some time to create one that is unique to my needs?”

How to Create a Custom GPT

Let’s review the process for creating a custom GPT. No coding is required, so if you are a non-programmer like me, you’re in luck! While you can find some suggested steps from ChatGPT in this shared document, you can see the abbreviated steps below.

OpenAI lets your craft custom GPTs. Go to My GPTs, click the plus sign, and you're off!

OpenAI now lets you craft your own GPTs. These custom ChatGPTs can become personal assistants or tackle specific tasks, all without coding. With a ChatGPT Plus account, you can start building.

Just log in to ChatGPT.
Click Explore GPTs.
Then, click the Create button.

1. Plan your GPT.

Come up with a long prompt and paste it into the Create tab
Develop an image or logo for the custom GPT icon
Fill in the empty spaces in the GPT form

Example GPT created by the author: "Critical Thinking Analysis Tool". The GPT includes a description with instructions.

2. Configure your custom GPT.

Configuration is fairly straightforward. You can upload additional files that provide background knowledge to the prompt. As you can see above, I uploaded the mega prompt (long prompt) as a separate document, but in the Create tab, I was able to paste the entire prompt without issue. That is the place to start because the GPT Builder can help you generate conversation starter questions, and will make additional suggestions.

Give it a title.
Fill in the description.
Add conversation starters.
Upload any extra “knowledge” you want it to have access to.
Save it, or update it if you have saved it already.

3. Test it out!

Ask it questions to see how it responds.
Review responses for accuracy.
Share it with others!

The real work is in the megaprompt you craft, and you can see the one I used for my Critical Thinking Analysis Tool is quite long.

Test the Critical Thinking Analysis Tool

Video Walkthrough: Working with ALDO

Check out this ChatGPT Plus custom GPT to walk you through the process. It is an aid for coaches to use with teachers. It relies on the Amazing Lesson Design Outline (ALDO) and on this mega prompt (go ahead, get a copy to use in the AI of your choice!). The goal is to coach teachers in the use of high-effect size instructional strategies, brain-based learning, and social-emotional learning to enhance student learning, reduce teacher stress, and improve teaching effectiveness.

Let’s take a moment to walk through the creation of the prompt via video:

Test the ALDO Coach GPT

“Are you there?” I first typed that into an Apple //e computer. The answer was “Syntax error.” I wanted to find the voice in the machine, some consciousness that would talk to me, tell me things, and answer questions. Now, making conversation with technology is possible through AI prompts and megaprompts. I will share my journey of learning to craft these prompts to converse with AI.

What is a megaprompt?

Like many, I had no idea what a megaprompt was. Megaprompts are long prompts that provide structured instructions or questions. These allow the AI to give complete responses when asked a question or given an instruction. Harry Pickens (ChatGPT for Educators) describes the process in this way:

Crafting a megaprompt for ChatGPT involves creating a detailed and structured set of instructions or questions that guide the AI to generate comprehensive and contextually relevant responses.

I summarize Pickens’ instructions below:

Provide a clear goal.
Give context or background information.
Divide the goal into specific steps.
Be precise and detailed.
Use examples that clarify directions.
Say what you want to see.
Ask for AI’s response in stages.
See what works, then refine the prompt.

When I wrote my first megaprompt, I started with Picken’s megaprompt for ChatGPT. Then, I adapted it to my own use.

Why make megaprompts?

Long prompts, megaprompts, enable more of a conversation to happen with your AI chatbot. Moreover, you can rely on the AI’s vast expanse of information access. For example, for my critical thinking megaprompts, I wanted the AI to do something I could not. That is, keep track of ALL the logical inconsistencies that might pop up in my writing and thinking. Logical fallacies are “common errors in reasoning.” Getting an AI to identify those can be a time-saver, no? Plus, with megaprompts, you can provide the AI with exactly the lens through which you want it to respond.

The Anatomy of a MegaPrompt

I’ve identified the following anatomy for long prompts:

Role. Set the role of the AI. Don’t be afraid to juxtapose two different roles. For example, the AI can be a critical-thinking advisor and a jolly professor.
Goal. Explain the goal that the AI chatbot should adopt.
Context. Provide background information. Include information, questions, and examples.
Interaction Guidelines. Explain how you want the AI to interact with the user. For example, ask it to solicit user consent and readiness, provide step-by-step guidance, etc.
Interaction Structure. Detail how you want AI to begin, assess user knowledge, dialogue, and how you’d like it to conclude.
Task(s). Define the task(s) that you want the AI to perform. Clarify step-by-step guidance, the need for dialogue, and action steps for each task.

Let’s craft a long prompt together that offers suggestions on teaching and learning. For example, combine the work and insights of several authors, as shown in the Amazing Lesson Design Outline (ALDO). Would that not be amazing to have at your disposal as a new teacher or a veteran wondering how to implement John Hattie’s high-effect size instructional strategies or brain-based learning?

MegaPrompt: ALDO Coach

“What is the best strategy to use in a particular instructional situation?” This is an important question to ask. Trained coaches are invaluable assets in helping educators choose relevant strategies for varied instructional situations. Using tools like ALDO in professional development can be a valuable tool in supporting teachers in lesson development. But can AI be trained to use ALDO to brainstorm with teachers? Teachers who might be unfamiliar with John Hattie’s “Visible Learning” might like this kind of tool and guidance. It would simplify their lives. It could also work as a simple instructional strategies coach.

This megaprompt incorporates the information I shared in the Amazing Lesson Design Outline (ALDO):

Rather than break down each component of the megaprompt (you can see it here), let’s see it in action below:

Long prompts like this can be a lot of fun. Let’s take a look at a few others.

MegaPrompt: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking can be a tough area for human beings. It has an effect size of .84, according to the Visible Learning MetaX database. The reason why it’s tough, albeit important to learn, is that there is so much to be an expert at. You have to know quite a bit about a field of knowledge. You also have to understand how to apply critical thinking processes, and you have to do this while avoiding logical fallacies.

That’s where AI can help. I had a lot of fun with this megaprompt and really appreciate the work of Thinking Is Power‘s advocate of scientific literacy, Melanie Trecek-King. Using her ideas, as well as those of Wayne R. Bartz, I worked with Claude.ai to make the following (try not to laugh too much):

Author created derivative critical thinking processes

View Full Size | Get a copy via Canva

As a person who recognizes his own struggles with critical thinking, I wanted help. I thought that an AI might be able to do the following more easily than I am able to:

Check my reasoning, if necessary.
Help me avoid logical fallacies and inconsistencies.
Analyze articles and media reports objectively.
Avoid appeals to my emotions and my cultural background that might compromise my thinking.
Apply a critical thinking model or process on my behalf.

What a brain-saver, right? Some of the critical thinking processes I decided to apply include:

Wayne R. Bartz’ CRITIC >> View megaprompt.
Melanie Trecek-King’s (Thinking IS Power) FLOATER >> View megaprompt.
George Polya’s 4-Step Problem Solving. >>View megaprompt.

Both Bartz’s and Trecek-King’s approaches are ways to evaluate claims. These are claims that people might make in conversation or in the media. Some of the places I’ve tried the megaprompts include:

ChatGPT 3.5/Plus
Claude (including the Pro version)
Microsoft CoPilot

MegaPrompt Takeaway

What’s the big takeaway from megaprompts? Long prompts enable rich dialogue with AI, and each AI handles megaprompts differently but effectively. This can enhance learning, creativity, and critical thinking. Will you give megaprompting a try?

megaprompts

Three Steps to Easily Create a Custom GPT