By James Kemp – Head of Teaching and Learning at Mooltripakdee International School.

Crafting Effective Prompts: The Key to Unlocking AI’s Potential

One of the most powerful ways to use AI is by crafting effective prompts, often called prompt engineering. A prompt is essentially a question or instruction that you give to the AI, and the quality of the response you receive depends largely on how well the prompt is phrased. Here’s how you can help your child use prompts effectively:

Give the AI a role: for example, ‘You are a Year 6 international school student studying the Cambridge Primary curriculum revising for an end of topic test in rocks, the rock cycle and soil,’ or ‘You are a Year 5 teacher marking a piece of fiction writing focusing on use of expanded noun phrases.’ This will help the platform tailor its response to you more precisely.

Suggest that the platform asks you questions to help to refine its response: for example, ‘You are a Year 6 international school student studying the Cambridge Primary curriculum revising for an end of topic test in rocks, the rock cycle and soil. Create a 20 question multiple choice quiz to prepare for this test. Ask me 5 questions that will help you to do this.’

Studying and Revising: Encourage your child to use AI to review key concepts. For example, a well-crafted prompt might be, “Explain the process of photosynthesis in simple terms to a 9 year old child with English as a second language.” The AI can then generate a clear and concise explanation, which your child can use as part of their revision.

Quizzing: AI can also be used to create quizzes that test your child’s understanding of a topic. A prompt such as, “Create a multiple-choice quiz on the causes of World War II” can result in a set of questions that your child can use to assess their knowledge. Share your child’s syllabus or content with the platform to help generate the most relevant, impactful quizzes. You can even spice up quizzes by suggesting that the platform generates a choose your own adventure game using a multiple choice quiz, then select a theme that your child loves like pirates or deep space as a backdrop to the quiz.

Mind Mapping: When working on projects or essays, mind mapping is a useful tool for organising thoughts and ideas. Your child can use prompts like, “Generate a mind map for an essay on the impact of climate change” to help structure their work. The AI can produce a visual outline that makes it easier to develop ideas coherently.

AI Apps and Websites: Tools to Support Learning at Home

Over the last twelve months, there has been a flood of AI-powered apps and websites designed specifically to enhance learning. Here are a few that I have come across and seem to help some families: Khan Academy: known for its extensive library of free educational content, has incorporated AI to provide personalised learning experiences. The AI adapts to your child’s pace, offering tailored exercises and feedback. It’s particularly useful for subjects like maths and science. Quizlet:

Quizlet uses AI to help students create and study flashcards. The AI suggests questions based on the material your child is studying, making it easier to review and retain information. It’s an excellent tool for vocabulary building and revision.

Owlfit, previously known as Explain Like I’m Five (ELI5): is a platform designed to simplify complex concepts and ideas, making them understandable even for young children. It uses AI to break down complicated subjects into digestible explanations, catering to diverse learning styles. Hoja.ai: is an AI-driven personalised education platform. It uses advanced algorithms to adapt learning content to individual student needs, making it an excellent choice for tailored home learning. Whether your child needs extra help in maths or wants to advance in science,

Hoja.ai offers customised learning paths with insightful analytics. Brainly: this AI-driven platform allows students to ask questions about their homework and receive answers from both AI and other students. It’s a great resource for when your child is stuck on a problem and needs a little extra help. MindMeister: if your child prefers visual learning, MindMeister is a fantastic tool for creating mind maps. The AI helps to organise thoughts and ideas logically, making it easier to plan essays, projects, or study sessions. Next month in Part 2 James Kemp will investigate the moral and ethical questions posed by the use of AI in the Future of Learning.

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