Learn Prompt Engineering (Faculty)

Overview of Prompt Engineering for K-12 Teachers

Prompt engineering is an essential skill for educators using AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Meta AI, or other tools recommended by Riverdale. By crafting effective prompts, teachers can enhance lesson plans, differentiate instruction, develop rubrics, and frame feedback more precisely. Here are some general strategies for prompt engineering that apply across disciplines:

General Strategies

1. Clarity and Specificity: Ensure prompts are clear and specific to elicit focused and relevant responses.
2. Contextual Information: Provide background information to help the AI understand the scope and depth of the response needed.
3. Sequential Prompts: Break down complex questions into a series of simpler, sequential prompts to build comprehensive answers.
4. Examples and Templates: Use examples or templates to guide the AI in formatting responses appropriately.
5. Feedback Prompts: Ask the AI to generate feedback for student work, specifying the criteria or rubrics used.

Discipline-Specific Tips

The following examples outline ways in which Generative AI can be used to develop curriculum and differentiate instruction. For more general prompt engineering tips, please refer to this article on General Prompt Engineering Tips.

English

• Curriculum Development: "Create a detailed unit plan for a 10th-grade English class focusing on American literature. The unit should cover 6 weeks and include learning objectives, key texts (such as 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald), weekly lesson plans, and assessment methods. Ensure that activities cater to different learning styles and include opportunities for reading, writing, discussion, and multimedia projects."

Math

• Differentiation: "Design a set of differentiated math activities for a 7th-grade class learning about fractions. Include three levels of difficulty: basic (simplifying fractions and finding common denominators), intermediate (adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators), and advanced (multiplying and dividing fractions). Provide instructions, example problems, and solutions for each level. Include suggestions for incorporating manipulatives, visual aids, and real-world applications to engage diverse learners."

Science

• Curriculum Development: "Develop a semester-long curriculum for an 8th-grade science class on physical science topics, including Newton's laws of motion, energy transformations, and simple machines. The curriculum should outline weekly topics, lab activities, homework assignments, and assessment methods. Include hands-on experiments, multimedia resources, and cross-curricular connections to reinforce concepts. Ensure the curriculum aligns with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)."

History

• Differentiation: "Create a differentiated lesson plan for a 9th-grade history class studying the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution. Provide three tiers of activities: basic (timeline creation and key terms definition), intermediate (short essay on the impact of industrialization on daily life), and advanced (research project on the long-term economic and social effects of the Industrial Revolution). Include scaffolding strategies, such as graphic organizers and guided reading questions, to support students at different levels."

Art

• Curriculum Development: "Design a comprehensive unit plan for a middle school art class focusing on Impressionism. The unit should last 4 weeks and include learning objectives, lesson plans, and assessment criteria. Activities should cover the history and characteristics of Impressionism, notable artists (such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas), and hands-on projects where students create their own Impressionist-style artwork. Include multimedia resources, such as videos and virtual museum tours, to enhance learning."

Music

• Differentiation: "Create a set of differentiated music theory exercises for a high school class. Include beginner (identifying notes and basic scales), intermediate (building chords and understanding key signatures), and advanced (analyzing harmonic progressions and composing short melodies) levels. Provide clear instructions, examples, and answer keys for each level. Include suggestions for integrating technology, such as music theory apps and software, to support diverse learning needs."

Language

• Curriculum Development: "Develop a semester-long curriculum for a high school Spanish I class. The curriculum should cover vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Outline weekly topics, lesson plans, and assessment methods. Include cultural lessons on Spanish-speaking countries, project-based learning activities, and opportunities for students to practice conversational Spanish through role-plays and language exchange programs. Ensure alignment with ACTFL standards."

Theatre

• Differentiation: "Create a differentiated lesson plan for a high school theatre class on character development. Provide three levels of activities: basic (character analysis worksheets and monologue practice), intermediate (scene study with partners and improvisation exercises), and advanced (writing and performing original monologues). Include tips for giving and receiving feedback, as well as strategies for students to reflect on their performances and set goals for improvement."

Dance

• Curriculum Development: "Design a semester-long curriculum for a middle school dance class focusing on various dance styles, including ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. Outline weekly topics, lesson plans, and assessment methods. Include warm-up exercises, technique drills, choreography projects, and performance opportunities. Provide multimedia resources, such as instructional videos and recorded performances, to enhance learning. Ensure the curriculum supports the development of physical skills, creativity, and cultural awareness."