On 28 August 2024 the Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement hosted an engaging faculty conversation on “Writing prompts for teaching with generative AI.” Led by Dr. Chris Fulton (CTLE) and Dr. Alice Lee (FAH-ELC), the event facilitated discussions on innovative ways to use AI in their teaching practices, with a focus on creating effective prompts for multiple-choice quiz questions. 

Key takeaways 

  • Writing good prompts is key to getting quality output from AI for teaching activities. 
  • While AI can quickly make quiz questions, teachers need to carefully evaluate and improve them to ensure the questions are suitable, aligned with learning objectives, and fair for students. 

The 75-minute session began with a remark from Prof. Katrine Wong, Director of CTLE, who drew participants’ attention to UM’s guidelines on generative AI use and a self-paced online module for students ‘Learning with Generative AI at UM’. Dr. Fulton and Dr. Lee spoke on several key areas, including practical applications for student activities and the design of quiz questions. Participants engaged in hands-on activities and group discussions, resulting in a valuable exchange on appropriate approaches to integrating AI into teaching practices. 

A significant portion of the workshop focused on the principles of creating effective multiple-choice questions and how to design prompts for AI tools to generate relevant quiz content. Participants explored the pros and cons of using AI for quiz generation and discussed best practices for question design. 

The event concluded with discussions on broader applications of generative AI in teaching and learning activities beyond quiz creation. Attendees described the various ways they are incorporating AI into their teaching practices, in various disciplines, while maintaining academic integrity and enhancing students’ learning experiences. 

(Download slides) 

Colleagues can find more resources for teaching and learning and register for upcoming collaborative professional development events on CTLE’s website at ctle.um.edu.mo.