Using AI powered tools has created an emerging digital literacy skill: text prompting.
The quality of the prompt directly affects the quality of the AI’s output. A clear, specific, and well-structured input helps the AI produce more accurate, creative, and useful results. Learning how to write better prompts gives you more control and helps you get exactly what you need from AI tools.
What Is Text Prompting?
Text prompting is the way we input text using words, such as a question or instruction, into an AI generative tool, like ChatGPT or Copilot. The AI uses the prompt to understand what the user wants, and then creates text output, code, an image, or other response.
Why Does Text Prompting Matter?
Not every prompt will have good results. You need to use prompt engineering, which is crafting the input to get more accurate, relevant, or creative results. Just like explaining an assignment to a classmate, the clearer and more specific you are, the more helpful you will be.
Think of a prompt as a set of directions. If the directions are broad and imprecise, the AI won’t know exactly what you want. But if you’re precise and focused, it can give you much better answers, ideas, or even images.
Prompt Engineering Tips for Researching a Topic
Strong prompting helps students use AI more effectively. Whether you’re writing, researching, designing, or brainstorming, learning how to ask the right question is key to getting quality results.
It’s not just about using AI; it’s about knowing how to guide it.
- Break down the topic into parts: Divide a big question into chunks.
- Be clear and specific: Specify exactly what you want using keywords.
- Ask for sources: Request links to the information or a citation list.
- Verify results: Double check that the answers are correct by visiting reliable sources.
- Provide context: Give background information such as the audience or goal.
- Set the format: Describe the output such as bullet points, numbered list, or paragraph.
- Follow up: After a response ask related questions to have it simplify or expand on points.
- Establish timeframes: Specify a date range to make sure the information is current.
- Use role play: Ask the model to assume a role to set the tone or style of the output.
- Dig deeper: Instead of a quick response, ask for a report that uses multiple sources.
Craft a Strong and Effective Prompt
Here’s an example from TechnoFuture AI, a soon-to-be-released new course from TechnoKids. In this project, students imagine the future. They create an interactive science fiction story that explores AI in daily life.
A student wants to research emerging technologies for the home.
Vague Prompt:
“Tell me about new home technology.”
This prompt might produce a generic list with little detail or relevance to the student’s topic.
Effective Prompt:
“List five emerging technologies designed for smart homes, such as AI-powered appliances or energy-saving devices. Explain how each one improves daily life. Describe how each device looks.”
Such a specific, detailed prompt that includes purpose and examples will get more accurate and useful responses when using AI for schoolwork.
TechnoFuture AI: Artificial Intelligence Course for Teens
Stay tuned for the launch of TechnoFuture AI. In this course, students sharpen computer science and language arts skills as they design an interactive ‘Choose Your Own Adventure‘ story using presentation software. Along the way, they explore emerging technologies, apply AI tools, develop technology and programming skills, and examine the practical and ethical use of artificial intelligence in the real world.
Sign up for a FREE TRIAL of TechnoKids digital literacy and coding resources HERE. And keep in touch!