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AI and Information Literacy: Prompt Ideas

Crafting Prompts

A prompt is (technically speaking) input to an AI tool. For research AI tools, the prompt is almost always a question, request, or topic posed by you, the human researcher. Why should you try to write good prompts?

  • Good prompts help the AI help you. A well-crafted prompt enables the AI to give you meaningful and useful results. A bad prompt may result in irrelevant data or lead you away from the best research.

Created by How to Craft Prompts - Artificial Intelligence (Generative) Resources - Guides at Georgetown University

 Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Prompt Ideas

Generative AI tools generate content in response to written and image prompts. Try some of these resources for prompt ideas:

What is Prompt Literacy? 

Read an Open Access article from UMASS Amherst

Gattupalli, Sai; Maloy, Robert W.; and Edwards, Sharon A., "Prompt Literacy: A Pivotal Educational Skill in the Age of AI" (2023). College of Education Working Papers and Reports Series. 6. https://doi.org/10.7275/3498-wx48

Free Prompt Literacy course from University of Michigan 

General AI Prompt Library for Educators

 

From the ALA course in Generative AI and Information Literacy. 

Articles from Science Direct and Academic Search Complete

Children's Book Reviews

 

Here are some CLEAR framework examples tailored for teacher education students writing children's book reviews. CLEAR – framework was developed by Leo Lo, a librarian and professor at the University of New Mexico.

C - Context: Provide background on the specific assignment and the students' role as future educators analyzing children's books.

  • Unclear: "Help me review a children's book." (Too broad)

  • Clear Example: "You are an AI assistant helping a teacher education student in their 'Children's Literature' course. The assignment is to write a 400-word review of the children's book '[Insert Children's Book Title and Author]' focusing on its potential use in an elementary school classroom."

L - Limitations: Specify constraints related to the review's focus, length, or particular aspects to analyze in children's literature.

  • Unclear: "Give me some things to say about a kids' book." (Open-ended)

  • Clear Example: "Suggest two key literary elements (e.g., character development, plot structure, theme) and one visual element (e.g., illustration style, use of color) from '[Insert Children's Book Title and Author]' that a teacher education student should analyze in their review. Keep each explanation to a maximum of two sentences."

  • Clear Example (Focus Limitation): "Outline three potential ways a teacher could use the book '[Insert Children's Book Title and Author]' in a lesson plan for a specific grade level (e.g., kindergarten, third grade). Focus on literacy development or social-emotional learning."

E - Expectations: Clearly state what you want the AI to do or produce concerning the children's book review.

  • Unclear: "What makes a good children's book review?" (Doesn't specify the AI's task)

  • Clear Example: "Generate a list of four questions that a teacher education student should ask themselves when evaluating the educational value and age-appropriateness of the children's book '[Insert Children's Book Title and Author]'."

  • Clear Example (Action Verb): "Describe the target audience (age range and developmental stage) for the children's book '[Insert Children's Book Title and Author]' and explain why you believe it is suitable (or unsuitable) for that age group, considering their cognitive and emotional development."

A - Audience: Define that the review is for an academic context (teacher education course) and potentially for other educators.

  • Unclear: "Help me write about this kids' book." (Doesn't specify the reader of the AI's output)

  • Clear Example: "Explain the importance of considering diverse representation (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, ability) when reviewing children's books for a teacher education student who will be selecting books for their future classroom."

  • Clear Example (Specific Audience): "You are providing feedback to a teacher education student. Suggest one way their review of '[Insert Children's Book Title and Author]' could better address the book's potential to foster empathy or understanding of different perspectives in young readers."

These examples were created using Gemini AI