The UT Austin teaching and learning community recently engaged in an insightful webinar focused on creating AI prompts and their applications in education. The webinar provided valuable insights into innovative ways of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology into teaching practices. Let's delve into the key takeaways from this enlightening session:
Understanding Generative AI
The webinar focused on how Generative AI, a subset of AI, plays a crucial role in this process by creating suggestions based on large amounts of data. There are various Generative AI tools such as Chat GPT, Turbo, Bing Chat, Copilot (Microsoft), Claude (Anthropic), Opus, and more. Proper prompting is important because there is no agency to be found in these tools. They are designed to mimic human writing but not actually understand concepts. The prompting approach fosters critical thinking and knowledge application among students.
Exploring Innovative Evaluation Approaches
A highlight of the webinar was the discussion on innovative evaluation methods empowered by AI prompting. Faculty members were introduced to the "Closing the Loop" assignment, where students can design prompt templates using the RTRI model (Role, Task, Requirements, Instructions) to guide AI responses. This approach encourages students to create contexts that effectively resolve prompts, fostering deeper engagement with course material and enhancing learning outcomes.
- Role: Defines the character or perspective (e.g., historian, scientist) for the AI response.
- Task: Specifies the objective or action the AI should accomplish (e.g., write an essay, analyze data).
- Requirements: Sets criteria the response must meet (e.g., include specific information, follow formatting guidelines, etc.).
- Instructions: Provides guidance on how the AI should operate to fulfill the role, task, and requirements.
Example: Imagine you're teaching a history course, and you want your students to understand historical events from different perspectives. You could design a prompt for a Generative AI tool like Chat GPT, asking it to generate a dialogue between two historical figures discussing a significant event.
Role: "You are Abraham Lincoln:
Task: "Discuss the Emancipation Proclamation with Frederick Douglass"
Requirements: "Include key arguments for and against the proclamation"
Instructions: "Write a dialogue that reflects the historical context and differing viewpoints of Lincoln and Douglass"
Empowering Faculty with AI Tools
The webinar aimed to empower faculty members with practical strategies for incorporating AI tools like Generative AI into coursework. Faculty learned the importance of evaluating AI-generated responses within the context of their courses, making sure they aligned well with what students needed to learn. By integrating these AI insights into class discussions and analyses, educators learned they can enrich the learning experience, encouraging students to think critically and explore diverse perspectives. Additionally, the webinar stressed the value of giving feedback on these AI-generated responses and continuously refining the prompts based on this feedback. This approach not only improves the quality of the AI responses but also ensures that they contribute effectively to achieving course objectives and engaging students in meaningful learning experiences.