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Using Generative AI to Enhance Student Learning Resources and Prompt Examples

Last updated on September 4, 2024

Guiding students to use Generative AI responsibly ensures that it complements their learning rather than detracts from it. With this approach, we can turn potential challenges into powerful teaching tools, preparing students for educational experiences and their professional futures.

Below are some best practices, examples, and sample Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT prompts that you can guide students to use to enhance their learning.

For more information please reference the Using Generative AI to Enhance Student Learning Spotlight.

GenAI Prompt Examples and Best Practices

“I’m writing a research paper on the impact of climate change on coastal communities in my [course name and level, e.g., 3000-level]. I want my introduction to be attention-grabbing and compelling. Can you help me craft an opening paragraph that highlights the urgency of the issue, includes a surprising statistic or fact, and sets the stage for my thesis statement?”

“I need help structuring my lab report for a biology experiment on the effect of light intensity on plant growth. Can you guide me on how to organize the sections of my report, including what to include in the title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusion, and references? Also, any tips on what key information to highlight in each section would be appreciated.”

A student named Alex is studying for their Biology course late at night and is having trouble understanding the process of photosynthesis. They decide to use the gen AI for assistance since they can’t reach their professor at that hour.

  • Alex prompts the AI: “I’m struggling to understand the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis. Can you explain it to me?”
  • The AI provides a clear explanation of the light-dependent reactions, allowing Alex to continue studying without having to wait for office hours.
  • To get a more tailored response, Alex includes specific details in their prompt: “For my Biology course, I need to understand the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis. The learning objective is to explain how sunlight is converted into chemical energy. My assignment asks me to describe this process in detail.”
  • With these details, the AI provides a more focused explanation that aligns with the course’s scope and helps Alex prepare for the assignment.
  • For exam preparation, Alex asks the AI: “Can you generate some practice multiple-choice questions on the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis?”
  • The AI generates several practice questions, such as “What is the primary function of the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis?” and “Which molecule acts as the final electron acceptor in the light-dependent reactions?”
  • For a writing assignment, Alex prompts: “Can you give me an essay question about light-dependent reactions?”
  • The AI provides an essay prompt: “Explain the process of the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis and discuss their significance in the overall photosynthesis process.”

By following these steps, Alex is able to use the AI tool effectively to understand the concept, stay within the course scope, and prepare for both exams and assignments.

“I’m writing a [#] page paper for an [course code, e.g., ENG 3000] course on [topic – e.g. Analyze the cultural and social impact of the Jazz Age on American literature.]. Here is what I’ve written thus far [paste your writing here], and here is the guidance from the instructor [include any details from the instructor: from Canvas announcements, pages, or in the assignment instructions for the essay itself on how the paper should be written]. Based on my draft and the instructor’s guidelines, how can I improve my writing? Please check my grammar, spelling, citation style, and adherence to the grading criteria specified by the instructor.”

“Generate a study guide for my upcoming [exam/paper] in my [course level, e.g., 3000-level] [subject, e.g., history] course. This guide should cover key topics such as [list key topics, e.g., the American Revolution, key battles, important figures]. Please include:

  • Summaries of key concepts
  • Important dates and events
  • Definitions of relevant terms
  • Discussion of main themes and ideas

Attached are the resources covered in the [exam/paper], including [list types of attached resources, e.g., PDF readings, PowerPoint slides]. Please integrate information from these materials into the guide.”

[Reminder: Attach all relevant study materials to ensure comprehensive coverage of the topics.]

“I’m working on a writing assignment about the importance of renewable energy sources. My main arguments are that renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions, decreases dependency on fossil fuels, and promotes sustainable development. Can you help me strengthen these arguments by providing additional evidence, statistics, and examples? Also, could you suggest counterarguments and how to effectively refute them?”

“I’m writing a research paper on the impact of social media on mental health among teenagers. Can you help me find and summarize recent studies or articles on this topic? I’m particularly interested in statistics, expert opinions, and case studies that highlight both the positive and negative effects. Additionally, could you provide a list of reputable sources that I can cite in my paper?”

“For my ethics class, I need to write a paper that critically examines a real-world ethical dilemma. Can you help me create a detailed scenario involving a company that must choose between maximizing profits and ensuring environmental sustainability? The scenario should include key stakeholders, potential consequences of each decision, and ethical principles at play. Additionally, could you suggest some questions or angles I can explore to deepen my critical analysis of the situation?”

A screenshot of a document titled ‘Climate Change Data Analysis’ with four bullet points summarizing temperature changes and climate data analysis. The points discuss global temperature trends, regional variations, extreme temperature changes, and consistent warming in specific countries. The background is white with black text and some highlighted sections in blue.
Students can use AI to help analyze climate change data sets.
A document discussing the expansion of the American West. It covers historical events such as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Oregon Trail migrations, and the Mexican-American War. The text also addresses the impact on Native American tribes and the tensions leading to the Civil War. Footnotes are included for references.
A sample of historical research that can be pulled from AI.
A document titled ‘Strategies for Critical Analysis’ with three main points. The first point discusses evaluating sources and perspectives, including diverse viewpoints and differentiating between primary and secondary sources. The second point focuses on contextualizing historical events within broader economic, political, and social contexts, and analyzing cause and effect. The third point emphasizes identifying bias in interpretations by considering the potential biases of authors and the time period in which they wrote.
A list of strategies for critical analysis of historical data.
A screenshot of a document titled ‘Copilot’ with a list of module objectives and course objectives related to inclusive education. The document outlines the alignment between module objectives and overall course objectives, emphasizing the importance of inclusive cultures, practices, and identifying key components for students with significant support needs. Specific points include prioritizing and justifying key components of inclusion (CLO 1), describing roles for meaningful inclusion (CLO 2), creating an action plan for inclusive cultures (TQS 2A, BC), planning instruction for students with significant support needs including assistive technology (TQS 2C, CEC 2.0), and identifying targets or critical skills that promote long-term success and independence for students (Module’s Objectives).
Microsoft Copilot’s output when asked to analyze the alignment of module and course objectives.
A screenshot of a document titled ‘Learning Plan’ with a list of activities organized by day and time. Day 1 includes reviewing the syllabus and assignment guidelines, listing all tasks and deadlines, gathering necessary materials, and breaking down each assignment into smaller tasks. Day 2 involves researching scholarly articles on climate change, using reliable sources like academic journals, government websites, and educational institutions. The focus is on taking detailed notes related to assignments. Day 3 outlines drafting an essay, organizing notes, and creating a bibliography of sources.
A sample learning plan that Microsoft Copilot helped create.
A document discussing climate change with two main arguments. The first argument, titled ‘Natural Climate Variability,’ suggests that climate change is a natural phenomenon that has occurred throughout Earth’s history, referencing periods like the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age. The second argument, titled ‘Inaccurate Climate Models,’ criticizes climate models for failing to accurately predict future conditions due to the complexity of climate systems.
A sample Microsoft Copilot output when asked to provide counterarguments on climate change.
A screenshot of a document titled ‘Scenario’ with a brief description of a family gathering where an uncle denies climate change. Below the scenario, there’s a section titled ‘3-Point Strategy to Defend Climate Change,’ which lists three strategies: 1. Present Scientific Consensus and Evidence, 2. Fact-Based Approach: Start by mentioning that the overwhelming majority of climate scientists agree that climate change is real and primarily driven by human activities, 3. International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports.
Microsoft Copilot’s output when asked to create a scenario and outline a strategy to defend climate change.
A screenshot of a document containing three prompts discussing various aspects of climate change. The first prompt asks to explain the scientific basis of climate change, including the role of greenhouse gases and human activities, providing recent data and examples. The second prompt inquires about addressing common misconceptions about climate change and how they can be effectively countered with scientific evidence. The third prompt encourages exploring solutions and actions available to mitigate climate change, asking how individuals, communities, and governments can contribute to these efforts.
A sample Microsoft Copilot output when asked to provide prompts that would yield insightful responses from an AI about climate change.
A screenshot of a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation titled ‘Introduction to the American Civil War.’ The slide contains bullet points summarizing key information: the war was fought from 1861 to 1865, it was a conflict between the Union (North) and Confederacy (South), and the central issue was slavery and states’ rights. On the left side of the screen, there is a pane showing thumbnails of other slides in the presentation, with titles such as ‘Causes of the Civil War,’ ‘Major Battles of the Civil War,’ and ‘Outcomes and Consequences of the Civil War.
For an accurate output when requesting PowerPoint slides, it is essential to be explicit in providing the number of slides, bullet points per slide, and to keep the information concise.
A screenshot displaying a list of educational resources on climate change. Each resource is numbered and includes a title in bold followed by a short description detailing the type of content provided, such as guides, courses, interactive tools, videos, and basic information aimed at different audiences including students and educators.
AI can be used as a research aid and provide some possible resources to get started on a project.

Additional Resources

When you click on the assignments below, the template will download. The Word document will be located in your downloads folder.

GenAI-Assisted Data Analysis Assignment Download
GenAI Critical Evaluation Assignment Download
GenAI Student Collaboration AssignmentDownload
GenAI Student Use Log Download
Sample Rubric for GenAI Use in Writing AssignmentDownload
Reflection of GenAI Use AssignmentDownload

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