Prompting Toolkit for Faculty, Staff & Admin
Writing effective prompts is the key to unlocking useful, accurate, and ethical responses from AI tools. Whether you're teaching, advising, drafting reports, or writing emails, this toolkit will help you get better results—faster.
Learn
Discover the principles of effective AI prompting
Practice
Try ready-to-use templates for common tasks
Improve
Transform basic prompts into powerful instructions
What Makes a Good Prompt?
Hover over each card to reveal more information
Role
Who should the AI act as?
Example:
"You are a faculty advisor helping first-year students."
Giving AI a specific role helps it understand the perspective it should take.
Task
What should the AI do?
Example:
"Write a checklist, email, or discussion prompt."
Be specific about what you want the AI to create or help with.
Context
What's the situation?
Example:
"For multilingual students in a hybrid course."
Providing context helps the AI tailor its response to your specific situation.
Constraints
What are the limits?
Example:
"Limit to 5 bullet points, plain language."
Setting constraints helps control the length and style of the AI's response.
Format
How should it look?
Example:
"Response should be in email format with greeting and closing."
Specifying a format ensures the AI delivers content in your preferred structure.
Putting It All Together
Role: You are a faculty advisor helping first-year students.
Task: Write an email template.
Context: For multilingual students in a hybrid course who missed the first week.
Constraints: Limit to 5 bullet points, use plain language, avoid idioms.
Format: Response should be in email format with greeting and closing.
Prompt Makeovers
See how small changes can dramatically improve your results
Shakespeare Help
Before:
"Help with Shakespeare"
After:
"Summarize Hamlet's theme of revenge in 3 sentences, for a 10th-grade audience."
Why it works: The improved prompt specifies the exact play, theme, length, and audience level.
Discussion Post
Before:
"Write a discussion post."
After:
"Write a discussion post exploring how social media affects mental health. Include one example from your own experience."
Why it works: The improved prompt provides a specific topic and asks for personal reflection.
Student Email
Before:
"Write an email to students."
After:
"Write a supportive email to biology students who performed below average on the midterm. Offer 3 specific study strategies and office hour information."
Why it works: The improved prompt specifies the audience, tone, and exact content needed.
Assignment Instructions
Before:
"Help me write assignment instructions."
After:
"Create clear instructions for a 2-page reflection paper for first-year nursing students. Include grading criteria, formatting requirements, and 3 prompt questions about ethical decision-making."
Why it works: The improved prompt details the assignment type, length, audience, and specific components needed.
Prompt Templates by Use Case
Lesson Planning
"Create a 50-minute lesson plan on [topic] for [course level] students. Include 3 learning objectives, a 10-minute opening activity, 25-minute main lesson, and 15-minute application exercise."
Tip: Specify your teaching style (lecture, discussion, hands-on) to get more relevant activities.
Assignment Design
"Design a [assignment type] that assesses students' understanding of [concept]. Include clear instructions, grading criteria, and estimated completion time."
Tip: Mention any accessibility considerations to ensure the assignment is inclusive.
Student Engagement
"Generate 5 discussion prompts about [topic] that encourage critical thinking and personal reflection for [course level] students."
Tip: Ask for prompts that connect course content to current events or students' experiences.
Grading & Feedback
"Create a rubric for evaluating [assignment type] with 4 criteria and 3 performance levels (exceeds, meets, needs improvement)."
Tip: Include examples of feedback phrases for each performance level.
Accessibility Support
"Suggest 3 ways to make my [content type] more accessible for students with [specific need], while maintaining academic rigor."
Tip: Be specific about the type of content (lecture slides, videos, readings) for targeted suggestions.
Emails & Announcements
"Write a friendly reminder to faculty to submit final grades by Friday. Keep it under 3 sentences."
Tip: Specify the tone (friendly, urgent, formal) to match your communication style.
Report Drafting
"Help me outline a quarterly report on [department] activities. Include sections for achievements, challenges, budget summary, and next steps."
Tip: Provide key metrics or data points you want to highlight in the report.
Event Planning
"Create a checklist for organizing a [event type] for [audience]. Include timeline, required resources, and potential challenges."
Tip: Mention any budget constraints or special considerations for more realistic planning.
Policy & Form Writing
"Draft a clear [policy type] policy that addresses [issue]. Use plain language and include examples of compliance and non-compliance."
Tip: Ask for the policy to be written at a specific reading level (e.g., 8th grade) for accessibility.
Meeting Summaries
"Summarize these meeting notes into 3 key decisions, 2 action items, and next steps. Format as a professional email to attendees."
Tip: Paste your rough notes and ask AI to organize them into a structured summary.
Try It Yourself
Copy these prompts and paste them into your favorite AI tool
Student Reminder
"Draft a student reminder about overdue advising paperwork. Use a supportive tone, mention the deadline is next Friday, and explain the consequences of missing it. Keep it under 100 words."
Grading Rubric
"Create a grading rubric for a one-page student reflection on diversity in healthcare. Include criteria for content depth, personal insight, writing quality, and connection to course materials."
Inclusive Announcement
"Reword this announcement in a more inclusive tone: 'All students must attend the mandatory meeting on Thursday at 3pm. Those who fail to attend will not receive important information.'"
Course Description
"Write an engaging 100-word course description for an introductory environmental science class. Highlight hands-on activities, field trips, and career connections. Use language that appeals to both science and non-science majors."
How to Acknowledge AI Use
Transparency builds trust. If you use AI to draft, summarize, or revise content, acknowledge it clearly—just like citing a collaborator.
For Emails
"This email was drafted with help from Microsoft Copilot."
For Documents
"This policy was summarized using Claude.ai and reviewed by our team."
For Course Materials
"Initial content generated with ChatGPT. Final edits by instructor."
Why Acknowledge AI Use?
- Models the ethical use of technology for students
- Builds trust with colleagues and students
- Helps normalize appropriate AI use in education
- Encourages others to learn about AI tools
External Prompt Libraries
Explore these resources for more prompt ideas and templates
Prompt Genie
Interactive prompt builder with templates for education and professional use.
Visit ResourceAI for Education Prompt Library
Curated collection of prompts specifically designed for educators.
Visit ResourceMore Useful Things Prompt Library
Extensive collection of prompts for various professional contexts.
Visit ResourceGruvy Education
Specialized prompts for curriculum development and student engagement.
Visit ResourceThe Little Book of AI Prompts
Downloadable PDF with categorized prompts for higher education.
Download PDFDownloadable Resources
Prompting Workbook
Interactive exercises to practice writing effective prompts for various scenarios.
Download PDFPrompt Templates by Role
Customized prompt collections for faculty, advisors, administrators, and support staff.
Download Google Doc