Developing AI Skills

Req 6d — Writing Clear Instructions

6d.
Demonstrate 3 examples of writing clear instructions for a school-related task.

You have learned the principles of prompt engineering. Now it is time to put those skills to work. For this requirement, you will write three sets of clear instructions for school-related tasks and demonstrate them using an AI tool. This is your chance to show your counselor that you can communicate effectively with AI to get genuinely useful results.

A Scout at a school desk with a laptop open, demonstrating an AI interaction to a counselor sitting beside them. Both are looking at the screen, the counselor nodding approvingly.

What “Clear Instructions” Means

Clear instructions for AI follow the same principles you learned in the prompt engineering section: be specific, provide context, set the format, use examples when helpful, and iterate. But for school tasks, there is an extra consideration — you need to use AI as a learning tool, not as a shortcut. The goal is to have the AI help you understand material better, not to have it do your homework for you.

Example 1: Research Assistance

The task: You need to write a research paper on renewable energy for your science class.

A weak prompt:

“Write a paper about renewable energy.”

This would have the AI write the paper for you, which is not the point. And even if you used it, the result would be generic and would not match your assignment requirements.

A clear, effective prompt:

“I am researching renewable energy for an 8th grade science paper. I need to compare three types of renewable energy: solar, wind, and hydroelectric. For each one, help me understand:

  1. How it works (in simple terms)
  2. Its main advantages
  3. Its main disadvantages
  4. One real-world example of a large-scale project using it

Present this as a comparison table so I can use it as a reference while I write my paper in my own words.”

Why this works:

Example 2: Study Guide Creation

The task: You have a history test next week on the Civil War and need to study.

A weak prompt:

“Tell me about the Civil War.”

This would produce a wall of text that is too broad to be useful for studying.

A clear, effective prompt:

“I have a test next week on the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) for my 7th grade history class. The test covers causes of the war, major battles, key figures, and outcomes. Create a study guide with:

  • 15 key vocabulary terms with brief definitions
  • 5 important dates I should memorize
  • A list of 10 practice questions (without answers) that I can use to quiz myself

Focus on the most commonly tested topics for a middle school U.S. history course.”

Why this works:

Example 3: Math Tutoring

The task: You are struggling with a specific type of math problem and need help understanding the concept.

A weak prompt:

“Solve this math problem for me: 3x + 7 = 22”

Having the AI solve it teaches you nothing.

A clear, effective prompt:

“I am learning to solve one-variable linear equations in my 7th grade math class. I understand the concept of isolating the variable, but I keep making mistakes with the order of operations. Can you:

  1. Explain the general steps for solving equations like 3x + 7 = 22, showing your reasoning at each step
  2. Then give me 3 similar practice problems (without solutions) that I can try on my own
  3. After I attempt them, I will share my work and you can tell me where I went right or wrong

Please explain things simply and use encouraging language.”

Why this works:

Building Your Own Examples

For your demonstration with your counselor, you need to create three examples of your own. They should be based on real school tasks you actually have (or recently had). Here is a framework to help you build each one:

Prompt-Writing Framework

For each of your three examples, include:
  • The school subject (math, science, English, history, etc.)
  • The specific task (research, studying, problem-solving, writing, etc.)
  • Your grade level and course (helps the AI calibrate difficulty)
  • What you need help with (not “do it for me” but “help me understand/prepare/organize”)
  • The format you want (table, list, step-by-step, quiz questions, etc.)
  • Any constraints (word count, specific topics, what to include or exclude)

If you need inspiration, here are some school tasks that work well as AI instruction examples:

Code.org — Generative AI in the Classroom A free curriculum exploring how generative AI works and how to use it responsibly for learning. Common Sense Education — AI Literacy for Students Resources and lesson plans for understanding and using AI tools responsibly in school settings.