Generative artificial intelligence: Use at University

Be aware of prompting ethically e.g., asking the GenAI tool to consider a balanced and unbiased approach to your prompt. 

Ask for credible references to support the output.

Be clear, explicit, and precise instructions regarding the specific type of output required to avoid ambiguity.

Using keywords in your topic or discipline area will help the GenAI tool generate more focused output.

Assigning a role will determine how the GenAI tool responds to your prompt hopefully increasing the relevance of the output, e.g., student, teacher, researcher, scientist, writer, nurse, librarian, business manager, etc. 

Consider your current level:

• Beginner, intermediate, or expert.
• Undergraduate or postgraduate.
• First-year undergraduate or final-year PhD candidate.

Be specific about the tone of the output required e.g., professional, formal, casual, humorous, etc.

Provide any background detail, such as:

• Consider your audience e.g., grade five students or people at a conference.
• Do you need to include demographic or cultural details?

Provide an example of the type, tone, or style of output that you require. Be careful not to upload any material with current copyright restrictions.

You may wish to provide GenAI with text to include.

Consider the format needed e.g., table, list, plan, brainstorming ideas, lesson plan, rubric, keywords, etc. 

Do you need in-text citations and a reference list in a particular style? 

Give GenAI detailed step-by-step instructions with a logical progression. 

Break complex tasks into separate steps.

Do you need a paragraph or 1000 words?

What should be included or excluded?

Treat the session like a conversation with a mentor or colleague. Ask GenAI to critically evaluate the output or question you for clarification or more input.

Be flexible and adapt as necessary.

Review the output and seek feedback from others so that you can improve your future prompts and output. 

Prompt is too general lacking specific instruction or examples.

Reinforcing stereotypes, assumptions, sexism, etc.

Too specific limiting variety and diversity in output.

Not giving enough background so that GenAI can generate a more detailed and relevant response.

Promoting illegal and/or dangerous activities.

Take care when developing complex prompts as GenAI may get confused and generate an unexpected response.

Wehn developing prompts be aware of the limitations of the GenAI that you are using.