4. Prompting

Creating a Good Prompt

!    Support Jim in formulating an effective prompt for a language model (LLM) that will help him create a study plan for a university course.
 
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Great job helping Jim create a prompt for his task! Now we want to test how effective this prompt is in generating a good study plan.
Proceed as follows:

  1. Select two or three different language models (LLMs)   (You can use any Large Language Model (LLM) of your choice – for example, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Llama, DeepSeek. However, we recommend using the FU-internal AI chatbot if you have concerns regarding data privacy and IT security. Read more here about the responsible use of LLMs.)

  2. Use the prompt provided below from the previous task in each of the selected models.

    Prompt
    Act as an experienced academic advisor helping a student create an optimized study plan. The student is enrolled in a 6-CP course called Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. The semester lasts 12 weeks. The course includes a lab practical on Wednesdays (2:00–4:00 PM) and a lecture on Fridays (10:00 AM–12:00 PM). Weekly assignments are always due on Fridays; the final exam is on July 14, 2025. The student has 6 hours per week available outside of class. Please create a weekly schedule balancing lab review, lecture preparation, assignments, and exam prep; provide concrete time suggestions (e.g., “2 hours on Monday for lecture reading”) and avoid weekend study sessions; include motivational tips and check-ins to keep me on track. Divide the study plan into three phases: (1) Review basics (Weeks 1–4), (2) Integration and application (Weeks 5–9), and (3) Exam preparation (Weeks 10–12). Within each phase, provide weekly goals and tasks. Specify exactly when I should work on assignments, review lecture/lab materials, and prepare for the exam. Give me three different study plan options: one front-loaded (more work at the start), one evenly distributed, and one exam-focused (less at the start, more intensive toward the end). For example: In Week 1, the student plans 1 hour reading the syllabus, 2 hours organizing materials, and 3 hours preparing for the lab. Use this as a model for time allocation. Structure your response in a clear list format and use tables for schedules. Think step by step to ensure the final plan fits the 6-hour per week limit and reduces end-of-semester stress.

  3. Review the outputs, share them with your colleagues, and discuss together:

  • Which language models did you select?

  • Did the prompt produce high-quality study plans?

  • How do the outputs differ between the different models?

  • What strengths or weaknesses could you identify in each output?