Strategies for Maximizing AI Outputs
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1. Be Specific
- What to do: Ask clear, detailed questions specifying exactly what you want.
- Why it matters: Precise prompts produce more relevant and accurate responses.
Example: Instead of asking “Tell me about legal case studies,” say “Provide three detailed case study examples of landmark contract law decisions relevant for teaching first-year law students.”
2. Provide Context, Background, and Constraints
- What to do: Include relevant details, particular limitations, and your purpose in your prompt.
- Why it matters: Context helps the AI tailor responses precisely to your request.
Example: “I’m teaching an introductory biology class at an R1 university; suggest 3 engaging activities to explain photosynthesis that can be done within 20 minutes.”
3. Assign AI a Role or Persona
- What to do: Ask the AI to respond as a specific role or expert.
- Why it matters: Roles guide tone and depth, making responses more focused.
Example: “As an educational researcher, recommend best practices for group projects in large-enrolled physics courses for second year students.”
4. Specify Desired Format or Style
- What to do: Clearly state your preferred output format or tone.
- Why it matters: Ensures responses meet your specific usability needs.
Example: “Create a table that includes key concepts of behavioral economics and how to operationalize them for a small business for a business undergraduate course.”
5. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
- What to do: Divide complex queries into simpler, step-by-step questions.
- Why it matters: Improves accuracy, clarity, and manageability of responses.
Example: First request a detailed outline for a case study, then separately ask for specific sections and elements to include.
6. Iterate and Refine
- What to do: Use follow-up questions to clarify, expand, or improve the AI’s answers.
- Why it matters: Iterative queries lead to more precise, helpful outcomes.
Example: “That was a helpful response, but rewrite this explanation of economic principles in simpler language for students without prior economics experience.”
7. Brainstorm Alternatives
- What to do: Prompt AI for multiple ideas or alternatives.
- Why it matters: Expands your options and sparks creativity.
Example: “Suggest three innovative assessment methods to evaluate students’ understanding of philosophical arguments in an ethics course.”
8. Use Examples to Guide AI
- What to do: Provide a brief example to illustrate the style or format you desire.
- Why it matters: Helps AI produce responses aligned closely with your expectations.
Example: “Write a detailed and welcoming course introduction similar to this example: ‘Welcome to Introduction to Sociology! In this class, we will…’”
9. Leverage AI for Learning
- What to do: Ask AI to explain concepts or break down information simply.
- Why it matters: Turns AI into an effective educational tool.
Example: “Explain the theory of relativity to me as if I were a 5 year old.”
10. Verify Critical Details
- What to do: Double-check important AI-generated facts or data.
- Why it matters: Ensures reliability and accuracy of critical information.
Example: Verify research citations provided by AI before using them in teaching materials.
11. Ask AI to Develop Your Prompts
- What to do: Ask it to improve your prompt and then use that new prompt in a new chatlog.
- Why it matters: Clarifies how the AI is interpreting your prompt and allows you to adjust and enhance for better results.
Example: “Improve the following prompt to maximize the abilities of a large-language model: [YOUR PROMPT]”
12. Use AI to Review its Work
- What to do: Ask it to review its output and identify problems, limitations, or missing details.
- Why it matters: Reviews its own work and often identifies flaws, missing details, or additional insights to include.
Example: “Review your last response and identify any limitations or missing details that would enhance your answer to the previous prompt.”
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