Overview 

This lesson teaches students how to write effective GenAI prompts and evaluate GenAI outputs critically. Students move from getting “okay” results to getting exactly what they need — and develop the habits of verification and critical thinking that make GenAI a useful academic tool rather than a liability.

Materials Needed

• Laptop and projector
• CoPilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini open and ready
• 2–3 pre-prepared GenAI responses (at least one containing a hallucination)
• Student devices with internet access

Preparation 

Prepare 2–3 GenAI responses in advance, including at least one that contains a hallucination or inaccuracy. Review the four-part prompting formula and the 4-Question Check framework in the Instructor Materials. Select one activity from the Student Activities document for Part 2.

Lesson Sequence

Time	Activity	Description
0:00–0:02	Opening	“You’ve all used GenAI. Today we’re going to get from ‘okay’ results to ‘exactly what I need’ results.”
0:02–0:17	Part 1: The Prompt Formula	Teach the four-step prompting formula using your preferred instructional material. Walk through each step with live examples (see full activity text below).
0:17–0:37	Part 2: Hands-On Prompting	Students apply the prompt formula using one activity from the Student Activities document. Test the prompt. Evaluate the output.
0:37–0:52	Part 3: Evaluating Output	Teach the 4-Question Check. Students apply it to their GenAI output.
0:52–1:00	Wrap-Up	Discussion: “What human skills become MORE important as GenAI improves?” (3 responses) “Who is helped vs. harmed by GenAI in academic work?” (3 responses)

Part 1: The Prompt Formula — Full Activity Text

Opening (2 min) “You’ve all used GenAI. Today: get from ‘okay’ results to ‘exactly what I need’ results.”

Teach the effective prompting formula using any instructional material you prefer. The following is a suggested sequence:

Step 1: Give GenAI a Task (3 min) “Write a simple, one-sentence prompt asking GenAI to do a task. Test it.”

Examples to show on screen:

• “Explain photosynthesis”
• “Analyze this poem”
• “Create a business plan”

Step 2: Add Context — Who You Are and Your Goal (3 min) “GenAI performs better when it knows who’s asking and why. Now add your level, your course, and your learning goal. You can also add a PowerPoint, a lecture, an image, or an article. Test it.”

Example transformation:

• Before: “Explain photosynthesis”
• After: “I’m a first-year biology student trying to understand photosynthesis for my intro biology exam. I need to understand the basic process and why it matters.”

Step 3: Define GenAI’s Role (4 min) “Should GenAI be a tutor? A peer reviewer? A coach? A critic? The role shapes the interaction. Test it.”

Examples:

• “Act as a Socratic tutor who asks questions rather than giving answers”
• “Act as a peer reviewer providing constructive feedback”
• “Act as a writing coach helping me improve clarity”

Step 4: Add Constraints (3 min) “Constraints prevent GenAI from doing the work for students. What DON’T you want GenAI to do?”

Examples:

• “Don’t give me the answer — ask me guiding questions”
• “Don’t write the essay for me — help me outline my own ideas”
• “Use language appropriate for first-year students, not advanced terminology”
• “Limit response to 150 words”
• “Don’t include any code — explain the concept only”

Part 3: Evaluating Output — The 4-Question Check

Teach students to ask these four questions about any GenAI output before using it:

1. Accurate? What looks accurate? What needs verification?
2. Relevant? Did it actually answer the question?
3. Complete? What’s missing?
4. Biased? Are there perspectives that seem skewed or absent?

Facilitation Notes 

The live prompting demonstration is most effective when you test prompts in real time and let students see the difference each step makes — don’t just show pre-prepared examples. For Part 2, choose a Student Activity that connects to your FYS discipline. The wrap-up questions work well as a quick-write before discussion if you want every student to generate a response.

Differentiation / Accessibility Suggestions 

Students who are hesitant about using GenAI directly can observe a partner’s screen during the hands-on activity before trying on their own. The 4-Question Check can be printed as a reference card for students to keep.