Content Comparison

Best Practices for Using AI Tools

Effective AI Prompting and Interaction

Common Pitfalls in AI Use

Many users don’t maximize AI’s potential due to vague inputs and a passive approach. Here are common missteps:
❌ Generic Prompts – Asking broad questions like “Give me ideas for an AI workshop.”
❌ One-and-Done Approach – Accepting the first response without refining or probing deeper.
❌ Lack of Role Framing – Not specifying whether the AI should respond as a researcher, instructional designer, or subject matter expert.
❌ Unstructured Requests – Seeking general information rather than well-organized insights.

Best Practices for Prompting AI

✅ Use Context-Rich Prompts – Provide background details, specify constraints, and clarify objectives.
✅ Refine Iteratively – Engage in a back-and-forth to improve responses rather than settling for the first output.
✅ Guide AI with Multi-Step Thinking – Break complex requests into sequential tasks.
✅ Role-Based Prompting – Frame the AI’s perspective (e.g., “Act as a curriculum designer and suggest a new assessment method.”).
✅ Structured Output Requests – Ask for organized responses (e.g., “Provide a summary with key takeaways, limitations, and next steps.”).

📌 Example:
Instead of asking “How can I improve my course?”, say:
➡️ “I’m revising a syllabus for an introductory business course. It needs to balance technical concepts with practical applications. Can you suggest a week-by-week structure with key learning objectives, real-world case studies, and interactive learning activities?”

AI for Research and Content Creation

Common Pitfalls

❌ Basic Summaries – Using AI for surface-level definitions rather than deeper analysis.
❌ Limited Context Awareness – Copying AI responses verbatim without adapting them to specific needs.
❌ Underutilizing File Uploads – Not using AI to extract insights from research papers or datasets.

Best Practices for AI in Research & Writing

✅ Synthesizing Research – Use AI to summarize, contrast, and analyze academic literature.
✅ Adapting AI Content to Context – Modify AI-generated outputs to align with institutional policies and course goals.
✅ Efficient Data Processing – Upload PDFs, spreadsheets, or reports and ask AI to extract key insights.
✅ AI-Assisted Writing – Draft lesson plans, grant proposals, or research abstracts with AI, then fine-tune them.

📌 Example:
Instead of asking “What is Bloom’s Taxonomy?”, ask:
➡️ “Can you adapt Bloom’s Taxonomy to create an assessment framework for an online nursing simulation course, with example rubrics?”

AI-Enhanced Teaching & Student Engagement

Common Pitfalls

❌ AI as a Shortcut – Using AI for content generation without promoting deeper learning.
❌ No Critical Engagement – Allowing AI use without teaching students to fact-check and refine responses.
❌ Limited Faculty Training – Not equipping instructors with strategies for ethical AI integration.

Best Practices for AI in Education

✅ AI as a Learning Tool – Design activities where students use AI for brainstorming, analysis, and skill-building.
✅ AI-Assisted Feedback – Use AI to generate rubric-based feedback tailored to different proficiency levels.
✅ Course-Specific AI Training – Educate faculty on discipline-specific AI applications.
✅ Interactive AI Use – Encourage students to engage critically, rather than passively, with AI-generated content.

📌 Example:
Instead of saying “You can use AI for your assignments,” say:
➡️ “For this marketing assignment, ask the AI to critique your company’s target audience selection. Compare its insights with your own and refine your strategy based on the discussion.”

AI for Workflow & Productivity Optimization

Common Pitfalls

❌ Minimal Automation – Doing repetitive tasks manually instead of streamlining with AI.
❌ No Data Insights – Using AI only for text generation rather than institutional research or analysis.
❌ Limited Integration – Using AI in isolation rather than embedding it into workflows.

Best Practices for AI in Productivity

✅ Automating Repetitive Tasks – Use AI for emails, lesson plans, meeting summaries, and curriculum mapping.
✅ Data-Driven Decision Making – Leverage AI for institutional research, performance analysis, and predictive modeling.
✅ AI-Integrated Workflows – Combine AI with tools like Notion, Power Automate, or Excel for efficiency.
✅ Cross-Department Collaboration – Encourage AI use across teaching, research, and administration.

📌 Example:
Instead of manually compiling student feedback, ask:
➡️ “Summarize common themes from these course evaluations and suggest three actionable improvements.”

AI Ethics & Policy Awareness

Common Pitfalls

❌ Ignoring AI Bias – Assuming AI-generated content is neutral.
❌ Lack of Institutional Strategy – Using AI informally without considering long-term policy impacts.
❌ No AI Literacy Education – Failing to teach faculty and students how AI generates responses and where it may be flawed.

Best Practices for Ethical AI Use

✅ Addressing Bias and Misinformation – Recognize and mitigate biases in AI-generated content.
✅ Aligning with Institutional Policies – Ensure AI use aligns with academic integrity policies.
✅ Transparency in AI Use – Disclose when AI is used in policy-making, research, or instructional design.
✅ Advocating for AI Literacy – Educate peers and students on how AI works and its limitations.

📌 Example:
When discussing AI use in assessments, ask:
➡️ “What are ethical guidelines for allowing AI-generated content in student assignments? Provide examples from other colleges’ policies.”

Final Takeaways: How Experienced Users Maximize AI’s Potential

✅ They treat AI as a collaborator, not just a tool.
✅ They refine AI-generated content to fit specific needs.
✅ They integrate AI into workflows for maximum efficiency.
✅ They approach AI critically, ensuring it enhances learning rather than replaces thinking.
✅ They use AI across teaching, research, and administration, maximizing its impact.

Shaping the Future of AI in Education

AI is not going away—it’s becoming part of how we work and learn. Faculty have the opportunity to shape how students engage with AI responsibly.

Whether experimenting with AI for personal productivity or integrating it into coursework, the key is to approach AI with curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical awareness.