AI Student Guides

Creating a Visual Learning Experience Leveraging the Artifacts Feature in Claude

By Student Author
Headshot of Sebastian Thomas
Sebastian Thomas

MS in Artificial Intelligence

Khoury College of Computer Sciences

Class of 2026

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Introduction

As a student navigating complex courses, I’ve discovered that visualizing information through flowcharts significantly improves my understanding and retention of difficult concepts. I’ve found that Claude’s artifact feature can generate clear, professional-looking flowcharts that help me organize my thoughts and see connections between ideas that weren’t obvious before. This visual approach has transformed how I study subjects with hierarchical relationships.

 

Specific Examples

  1. Visualizing scientific processes: Creating flowcharts to understand complex processes/architectures.
  2. Organizing literature analyses: Mapping character relationships or thematic elements in novels or plays.
  3. Structuring historical timelines: Developing branching flowcharts that show cause-and-effect relationships between historical events.

 

Tools and Resources

Claude’s artifact feature is particularly effective for creating flowcharts because it supports multiple diagram types:

  • SVG (scalable vector graphic) diagrams: For custom, detailed flowcharts with precise control
  • Mermaid diagrams: For quick, standardized flowcharts with simple syntax
  • React components: For interactive flowcharts with more dynamic elements

Before starting, gather:

  • Clear understanding of the concept you want to visualize (It’s always better to know something about the topic before asking an AI tool to visualise or explain it.)
  • The key elements and their relationships
  • Examples of similar flowcharts for reference (optional)

 

Prompts

Starting Prompt:

I’m studying [specific topic] and need help visualizing the relationships between [key concepts]. Could you create a flowchart using an artifact that shows:

1. The main components: [list key elements]

2. How these components relate to each other

3. The sequence/process flow from [starting point] to [end point]

Please use a [Mermaid diagram/SVG/React component] with clear labels and a logical layout. Use [specific colour scheme if desired] to help differentiate between different types of elements.

Follow-up prompts for iteration:

  1. Could you modify the flowchart to emphasize the relationship between [specific elements] more clearly?
  2. I’d like to add more detail about [specific process/component]. Can you expand that section of the diagram?
  3. The connection between [Component A] and [Component B] isn’t quite right. Could you adjust it to show that [specific relationship]?

 

Thoughts and Concerns

Accuracy check: Always verify the logic and content of AI-generated flowcharts against your course materials, as Claude may occasionally misrepresent connections between concepts.

Start simple: Begin with basic flowcharts and gradually add complexity through iterations – this approach helps avoid overwhelming diagrams.

Use your own understanding: The process of directing Claude to create and refine these flowcharts reinforces your learning. Don’t just accept the first version – the back-and-forth helps solidify your understanding.

Citation needs: If you plan to use these flowcharts in academic work, remember that while the format is Claude-generated, you still need to cite the source material for the concepts represented.

Example Prompt:

I’m studying programming fundamentals and would like to create an interactive concept map showing the relationships between key programming concepts. Could you create a React artifact flowchart that shows: 1. The main concepts: Variables, Control Structures (if/else, loops), Functions, Data Structures, and Object-Oriented Programming 2. How these concepts build upon each other 3. A brief explanation that appears when hovering over each concept. Please use a clean, modern design with different colors for different concept categories. Make it interactive so I can click on concepts to expand them and see sub-concepts.

Miscellaneous:

Learn more about Claude artifacts here: https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-them

Some cool artifact projects: https://madewithclaude.com/

 

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