AI at Beacon

Generative AI can be a helpful tool, but users need to understand that effective use of it requires a process. There are some general guidelines that should be followed to create the best prompts and, therefore, the best results.

1) Be specific, concrete, and concise. 

• Vague prompts will lead to general and unhelpful answers. Think about the information you need and word your prompts precisely to get those results. Do not include irrelevant words or details.

E.g.  Create a fun title for a college level workshop on using library databases. 

2) Consider your audience.

• Who is this for? AI cannot read your mind so it will not generate content for the appropriate audience unless you specifically define who that is.

E.g. Create a lesson plan on using Academic Search Premier for a first-year college class. 

3) Stay focused.

• AI can become confused if you try to cover too many different ideas at once. Focus on one topic at a time. Please be aware that generative AI tools, particularly free ones, often have a word limit, so it is helpful to be concise and precise while also ensuring that you have included all relevant details. 

E.g. "Bad" Prompt: Create a lesson plan on using Academic Search Premier or Bloom's Literature or Literary Reference Center for a first-year college class writing a short paper on the novel The Great Gatsby that must include sections on symbolism, characters, and themes. 

4) Consider your tone. 

• Tone is an important component of effective writing and AI use. Should the output be professional, funny, or casual? Let AI know what tone suits your purpose best. 

5) Review all required elements.

• Make sure you account for all of your requirements and confirm that they have been addressed in your prompt. Craft your prompt to have any important variables taken into consideration. Do you need a certain length, for example? Let AI know that. 

E.g. Create a lesson plan on using Academic Search Premier for a 45 minute first-year college class.  

Unless you worded your initial prompt perfectly, chances are the output you receive will not be exactly what you wanted. When this happens, take note of what exactly is wrong with it. Is it for a lower or higher audience than you intended? Is it too general and vague? Is it not exactly on the intended topic? Whatever the problem, it is important to be aware so you can revise your prompt and make it more effective.

If the output is a good starting point for your needs, there are two things you still need to do:

1) Revise so it is tailored exactly to what you need. It is unlikely that it will be perfect as is.

2) Check the accuracy of the information. If it seems questionable, you should use a different resource.