Overview for Teachers

This lesson focuses on refining and iterating prompts in generative AI, teaching students the iterative process of prompt engineering to achieve precise and desired outcomes.

Important Note

Please ensure you adhere to your school’s approved guidelines and AI policy before introducing this lesson to your students. It is important for educators to be familiar with this technology and its challenges, including the following: 

• Many AI tools require students to be at least 13 years old, and may require parental consent for those under 18 years old. Read the terms of service and privacy policy before using any AI tool, app, or website. 

• It is important to teach students about the safe and responsible guidelines of using AI at the start of every lesson.

• Generative AI tools may occasionally produce inaccurate or fabricated content. Verify the accuracy of AI outputs using discretion and critical thinking. 

• The outcomes of exercises in this toolkit may differ from provided examples, as they depend on your specific inputs and the AI tools employed.

Slide 1

Welcome the students to the class and briefly summarise the topic of prompt engineering in generative AI. Explain that today’s lesson is about improving prompts through the process of refining and iterating.

Slide 2

Start by stressing the importance of ethical and responsible AI use. Encourage an open discussion on each of the guidelines presented, asking students for their input and any experiences they may have had with AI tools.

Slide 3

Ensure that all students have access to the necessary technological tools. Walk them through how to access and utilise the AI platforms that will be used during the lesson, offering assistance to those who might be less familiar with these tools.

*Note to Educators: you may choose any of the listed AI tools that is in line with your school’s policies.

Slide 4

Introduce the concepts of refining and iterating prompts by asking students to share their understanding of the keywords “refine” and “iterate”.

Slide 5

Discuss the impact of prompt clarity on AI outputs. Use examples to show how vagueness can lead to unexpected results and the value of clear instructions.

Slide 6

Explain the iterative cycle of prompt refinement. Emphasise that initial prompts might require adjustments based on the AI's response for better outcomes.

Slide 7

Encourage students to explore AI's capabilities through diverse and unconventional prompts. Emphasise that experimentation can lead to new discoveries and learning experiences.

Slide 8

Conduct a group exercise using the provided examples. This exercise will demonstrate the skills of refining and iterating prompts in a real-world context.

Slide 9

Guide students in writing a creative story using the provided prompt. Facilitate students to enter the prompt into an AI tool and share their outputs with the class.

Slide 10

Instruct students to refine their initial prompt by adding specific details, such as introducing a second character and setting the story on a specific planet. Have them compare the initial and refined stories.

Slide 11

For this exploration task, students can choose to work in pairs or independently. Encourage students to use the skills they have learned in this lesson to complete the task ahead. 

Slide 12

In this exercise, students should generate a story inspired by the given premise, adding their creative ideas for a unique blend of AI and personal creativity. Emphasise on the need for students to add in their personal inputs to the final results, and to discourage any students from directly copying and pasting the AI’s outputs without critical review.

Slide 13

Invite students to share their stories and discuss the prompts they used. Encourage a conversation on how the iterative process and specific details influenced their final output.

Slide 14

Summarise the key points of the lesson, focusing on the importance of refining and iterating prompts for effective AI interaction.