Module 3: GenAI Prompting
📌 About Module 3
🔎 Module 3 Learning Objectives
By the end of this module students will be able to:
- Evaluate the pros and cons of GenAI usage;
- Critically assess when and how to use GenAI as part of their writing process;
- Transparently demonstrate any usage of GenAI in their writing process.
The module is designed to address the following elements based on the credit and contact hour limitations of the relevant course:
| Essential | Prompting, evaluating output, GenAI in various disciplines (ethical and effective uses) |
| Recommended | GenAI platform comparisons, citing GenAI |
| Optional | GenAI in everyday use |
🗂️ Module Components
📌About This Module
- Overview
- Learning Objectives
- Module Components
- Key Concepts
🧭 Lesson Plans for Module 3
- 60 minute lesson plan
- 90 minute lesson plan
- Studio Hour lesson (60 mins)
📖Teaching Resources for Module 3
- Essential Materials
- Recommended Materials
- Optional Materials
🎲 Student Activities
Instructors are encouraged to review the available materials and use their discretion to remix and integrate elements of the module as suited to their unique pedagogical goals and circumstances.
💡 Key Concepts
PROMPTING FUNDAMENTALS
Prompt
The text input or instruction given to an AI system to generate a response. The quality and specificity of the prompt directly affects the quality of the output.
Prompt Engineering
The practice of designing and refining prompts to get desired outputs from AI systems. A skill that improves with practice and experimentation.
Context
Background information provided in a prompt that helps the AI understand the situation, purpose, or audience for the request. Example: “I’m a college freshman writing for my biology class…”
Specificity
The level of detail and precision in a prompt. More specific prompts (with clear parameters, format, audience) typically produce more useful outputs.
Iteration
The process of refining prompts based on initial outputs. Rarely does the first prompt produce the perfect result; good prompting involves following up and adjusting.
Few-Shot Prompting
Providing examples within your prompt to show the AI what kind of response you want. Example: “Explain it like this example: [example]. Now explain photosynthesis the same way.”
Chain of Thought Prompting
Asking the AI to “show its work” or “think step-by-step” to get more reasoned, detailed responses rather than quick answers.
PROMPT COMPONENTS
Role Assignment
Telling the AI what perspective or expertise to adopt. Example: “Act as a biology tutor…” or “Explain this as if you’re talking to a 10-year-old…”
Task Specification
The clear statement of what you want the AI to do. Example: “Explain the difference between…” or “Generate 5 practice problems about…”
Constraints
Limitations or boundaries placed on the AI’s response. Example: “Keep it under 200 words,” “Don’t use technical jargon,” or “Avoid giving me the answer directly.”
Format Requirements
Specifications about how the output should be structured. Example: “Give me a bullet-point list,” “Create a table,” or “Write this as a dialogue.”
Tone/Style
The desired voice or manner of the response. Example: “Use a casual, conversational tone” or “Write formally as for an academic paper.”
OUTPUT EVALUATION
Hallucination
When AI generates false information presented confidently as fact. AI systems predict probable text patterns but don’t “know” truth, so they can fabricate plausible-sounding but incorrect information.
Verification
The process of checking AI-generated information against reliable sources. Never assume AI outputs are accurate without confirmation.
Bias
Systematic patterns in AI outputs that reflect prejudices or skewed perspectives from training data. Can appear in assumptions, stereotypes, or unbalanced viewpoints.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY CONCEPTS
Attribution
Properly acknowledging when and how AI was used in your work. Some instructors require noting “I used ChatGPT to clarify X concept.”
AI-Assisted vs. AI-Generated
AI-assisted means you used AI as a tool while doing your own thinking. AI-generated means the AI created the content that you’re presenting as yours.
🔗 Links to Module 3 Materials
(these also appear as subpages under the Module 3 dropdown menu)
