Lab Overview & Introduction
Learn effective AI prompting through hands-on practice with the CLEAR framework
🎯 Your Goal
Learn to create increasingly effective AI prompts using the CLEAR framework through a three-stage refinement process.
⏱️ Time Frame
Complete the lab at your own pace. Your work is automatically saved as you progress.
What is AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, solving problems, and making decisions.
Examples in Everyday Life:
- Voice Assistants: Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
- Recommendation Systems: Netflix, Spotify, Amazon suggestions
- Smart Home Devices: Learning thermostats and security systems
What is Machine Learning?
Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI that involves training computer systems to learn from data and improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed for each task.
How it Works:
- Data Input: Large amounts of data are fed into the system
- Training: The ML model learns to recognize patterns
- Prediction: The model makes decisions based on new, unseen data
The CLEAR Framework
Your roadmap for effective AI prompting throughout this lab
Clarity
Ensure that the prompt is clear and specific, with a clearly defined goal in mind.
Logistics
Include practical considerations and details including types of input, steps to take, and desired output format.
Examples
Provide examples to better describe your intended output. Also helpful to say what you do NOT want.
Audience
Identify your target population and include their characteristics, needs, existing knowledge and expectations.
Refinement
Refine the prompt by providing constructive feedback and output specifications to optimize results.
Why CLEAR Works for AI Prompting
- Provides specific context AI needs to generate relevant responses
- Reduces back-and-forth iterations and clarification requests
- Ensures generated content matches your actual requirements
- Helps AI understand both technical and contextual needs
Stage 1: Basic Prompt
Create a simple, broad prompt related to your chosen topic
Stage 1 Focus
Basic, broad request - Keep it simple and general
Instructions
Create a very simple, broad prompt related to your chosen topic. This should be the kind of basic request you might naturally make without much thought about structure or specificity.
Examples by Topic:
- Cooking: "Give me a dinner recipe"
- Research: "Tell me about climate change"
- Fitness: "Create an exercise routine"
- Technology: "Explain machine learning"
Now test your prompt!
Copy your Stage 1 prompt and test it with your chosen AI platform. Then return here to record the output and your analysis.
Consider: How helpful was the response? What important information was missing or was there an issue with relevance to your desired output?
Stage 2: Moderately Refined Prompt
Add 2-3 elements from the CLEAR framework to improve your prompt
Stage 2 Focus
Add 2-3 CLEAR elements - Make it more specific and targeted
Instructions
Refine your Stage 1 prompt by adding 2-3 elements from the CLEAR framework. Consider adding specificity about your audience, desired format, constraints, or examples.
Examples of Refined Prompts:
- Cooking: "Give me a healthy dinner recipe for two people that takes under 30 minutes to prepare"
- Research: "Explain climate change impacts on agriculture in simple terms for a college student"
- Fitness: "Create a 20-minute home workout routine for beginners with no equipment"
- Technology: "Explain machine learning algorithms in simple terms for someone new to programming"
Test your refined prompt!
Copy your Stage 2 prompt and test it with your AI platform. Compare the results to Stage 1.
Consider: Comparing to Stage 1, do you notice improvements? Is the output more or less desirable?
Stage 3: Highly Refined Prompt
Implement all elements of the CLEAR framework for maximum effectiveness
Stage 3 Focus
Full CLEAR Implementation - Comprehensive, well-structured prompt
Instructions
Create a comprehensive prompt incorporating ALL elements of the CLEAR framework. This should be a detailed, well-structured request that leaves little room for ambiguity.
Example of Highly Refined Prompt (Cooking):
Test your final prompt!
Copy your Stage 3 prompt and test it with your AI platform. This should produce the most targeted, useful response.
Consider: Did the usefulness, format, tone, or any other qualities improve? How so?
Reflection Questions
Analyze your experience with the CLEAR framework and AI prompting
Reflection Questions
Please thoughtfully answer each of these questions based on your experience with the three-stage prompting process:
Consider how prompt phrasing affects AI responses and your role in responsible prompting.
Reflect on potential biases in AI responses and whether you observed any in your experiments.
Share your opinion on the effectiveness of the CLEAR framework based on your experience.
Identify the most valuable CLEAR element or propose an alternative approach if you think CLEAR isn't effective.
Share your thoughts on the lab experience, any surprises, future applications, or concerns.
Suggested considerations for question 5:
- Did anything about your interaction with the AI platform surprise you?
- Did this activity give you ideas about how you might use AI in the future?
- Did this activity raise concerns about the overuse or misuse of this technology?
🎉 Congratulations!
You've completed the AI Literacy Lab and learned to use the CLEAR framework for effective AI prompting. This skill will serve you well in your future interactions with AI systems.
📤 D2L Submission
Click the button below to export your lab report as a PDF for submission to D2L. Make sure all your responses are complete before exporting!