Prompting means giving a GenAI model a clear question or instruction, so it knows what to answer or create. 

Creating Prompts

The better your prompt, the more likely you’ll get the result you want.

Be Specific

  • Tell the AI exactly what you want. The more specific your prompt, the better the result.
  • Example: Create a poem, tell me a story, write a code, or help with research. 

Include Purpose and Audience

  • Mention what the prompt is for and who it’s meant for. 
  • Example: “I am writing a persuasive paragraph for my teacher about recycling.”

Add Helpful Details

  • Give specific information, like tone, style, and format, in your prompt. This can help GenAI generate responses that meet your needs.
  • Example: give me a list, make it into paragraphs, draft an outline, write this like dialogue, the focus is on this subject area. 

Ask Questions

  • GenAI works best when you ask thoughtful, specific questions. It can be used to explore ideas, compare topics, and break down complex information.

Tweak and Try Again 

  • Your first prompt might not be perfect. Experiment and refine to get better results.

Double-Check Facts

  • GenAI can be wrong. Always verify important information from reliable sources.

Things To Remember

Think for Yourself

Be sure to critically analyze what GenAI generates. Teachers will guide you on when and how to use AI tools responsibly. Read more about Privacy Considerations or Critical Thinking and Misinformation.

Be Aware of Bias

The content produced by GenAI can contain gender, racial, cultural and ideological biases. This can happen because GenAI is trained on data on the internet that may contain prejudices and biases. If the data has bias, the AI can learn it too. Read more about Ethical Considerations. 

Seek Help

If you are uncertain or have concerns about GenAI usage, get help from educators or trusted adults. They can support you with the responsible use of GenAI and address any questions you may have.

Respect Indigenous Knowledge

You must be mindful that Indigenous knowledge is considered living and relational. It is not public domain. When AI systems interact with data related to Indigenous peoples, histories, or communities, they must be used respectfully, recognizing the unique cultural and ethical responsibilities involved. Read more about Ethical Considerations. 

Consider the Environment 

GenAI tools require a lot of energy to run, which can negatively impact the environment. Be mindful of how often and why you use these tools, and try to limit unnecessary usage to help reduce your carbon footprint. Read more about Ethical Considerations. 

Be Aware of Copyright

GenAI might be using information from someone else’s work, even though it might appear to be new content. Even if AI text looks original, it may be based on other people’s ideas and information. It’s also not always clear who owns AI-generated content. Read more about Academic Integrity, Citations and Fair Use.