Mastering the Art of Prompting

Prompting is the key to effectively interacting with AI, search engines, and digital assistants. Whether you're generating content, solving problems, or brainstorming ideas, the way you frame your request determines the quality of the response. This guide will help you craft better prompts to get the most out of AI tools.

What is Prompting?

A prompt is a set of instructions, questions, or input given to an AI system to generate a response. Well-structured prompts lead to clear, accurate, and useful outputs.

Types of Prompts

• Open-Ended Prompts – Encourage broad, creative responses.
  • Example: "What are some innovative strategies for student engagement in online learning?"
• Specific Prompts – Narrow down the response for precision.
  • Example: "List three research-based strategies for improving online student retention."
• Step-by-Step Prompts – Guide the AI to provide structured answers.
  • Example: "Explain how to design an effective business plan in three steps."
• Role-Based Prompts – Instruct AI to respond from a particular perspective.
  • Example: "Act as an instructional designer and suggest ways to integrate AI into higher education courses." 

Tips for Writing Effective Prompts

• Be Clear and Concise – Avoid vague wording to ensure precise responses. 
• Provide Context – Include relevant details to refine the output.
• Use Examples – If you want a specific style or tone, provide a sample.
• Specify Format – Indicate whether you need a list, paragraph, table, or bullet points.
• Iterate & Refine – If the response isn’t what you expected, tweak your prompt and try again.

Common Prompting Mistakes

• Being Too Vague – "Tell me about AI" vs. "Explain the impact of AI on higher education in 2025."
• Overloading with Information – Keep prompts focused; split complex queries into multiple prompts.
• Forgetting to Specify Output Type – If you need a summary, comparison, or step-by-step guide, mention it. 

Effective Prompting - The TARGET Framework

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T - Task Definition

What do you want the model to do? What actions do you want it to take?

A - Audience Context

Describe the audience. What is their background? What is the expected level of knowledge?

R - Restrictions

Set clear parameters for format, tone, style, and length. The clearer you are the more likely you will get the output you desire.

G - Guiding Persona

Give the model a guiding persona to help fram future prompts.

E - Examples

Provide the model iwth specific examples if possible, or if asking the model for analysis, reference the documents in your prompt.

T - Testing and Iteration

You do not always get the output you want the first time. Refine your prompts to achieve better results.