Practice

Step 1 · Design the program

1. 1
   Have each student decide what their program will do with a list.

   They can start from the list of ideas above or invent their own. Their instruction must be written in their own words. Do not let students copy a sample conversation.
2. 2
   Have each student write the instruction so it applies to the future.

   It should begin with language such as “Whenever I give you a list…” or “From now on, when I send you a list…”. It should not contain a list yet. The list comes next, as a separate message.
3. 3
   Send the instruction by itself, as the first message of a new conversation.

Step 2 · Send different inputs

1. 1
   Have each student choose something they know well.

   A sport, a game, a band, a hobby, a kind of food, a place they have been.
2. 2
   Have each student make a list of four or five items from that topic.

   Players, songs, tools, dishes, places, cars, whatever fits.
3. 3
   Send the list as a separate message.

   Then send at least two more lists without changing the instruction. Read the responses and check that AI did what the instruction said each time.

Step 3 · Update the program in the conversation

1. 1
   Have each student add one rule or clarification to their program without starting over.

   For example: a fixed format for the answer, a word limit, a requirement to give a reason, or a rule for what to do when the list has only one item. The message should make clear it is an update, such as “From now on, also…” or “Change the rule: …”. Here is an example update a teacher could show.

   copy

   From now on, use exactly this format for every list:
   
   ANSWER: [one item or one sentence]
   WHY: [one short explanation]

2. 2
   Send one of the same lists again.

   Do not change the input. Compare the new response with the earlier one for that list.

Step 4 · Write the quiz instruction

1. 1
   Have each student write the quiz instruction.

   It should tell AI to wait for material, then make a quiz using only that material.
2. 2
   Have them choose how many questions they want and what kinds.
3. 3
   Have them explain the format they want.

   How to number the questions, how to label answer choices, and where to put the answer key.
4. 4
   They may add one more rule.

   For example, making the questions easy, medium, or hard, or using only facts stated in the material.
5. 5
   End the instruction by telling AI to say "ready" and wait for the material.

   Here is an example quiz instruction a teacher could show. The number and question types in it are choices, not requirements; students should choose their own.

   copy

   I am going to give you some material in my next message. When I do, create a quiz from it. Use only the material I provide. Make four questions: three multiple-choice questions and one short-answer question. Number every question, label the answer choices A through D, and put the answer key at the end. Say "ready" and wait for the material.

Step 5 · Choose the material

1. 1
   Have each student choose a short piece of material they want to know well.

   A section of the driver’s manual, the rules of a sport or a card game, the safety card for a tool, a recipe, or a page of notes from a class.
2. 2
   Keep it separate from the instruction.

   The material is the input; it is not part of the instruction. It goes in its own message, sent after AI says ready. Here is an example a teacher could show.

   copy

   Here is the section on four-way stops from the driver's manual:
   ——
   At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive goes first. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first. If two vehicles facing each other arrive at the same time and one is turning left, the vehicle going straight goes first.
   ——

Step 6 · Run it and check the result

1. 1
   Send the quiz instruction as the first message of a new conversation.

   AI should reply with "ready" and nothing else.
2. 2
   Send the material as the second message.

   copy

   Here is the material:
   ——
   [Paste the material here.]
   ——

3. 3
   Check the result against the rules.

   Count the questions. Check the question types, numbering, choices, and answer key. Check that every question can be answered from the material alone.

Step 7 · Change one rule

1. 1
   Have each student change one rule in the same conversation.

   For example, change the number of questions, switch to all short-answer questions, or add difficulty labels. Here is an example update a teacher could show.

   copy

   Change the rule: make every question short answer, and label each question Easy, Medium, or Hard. Keep everything else the same. Say "ready" and wait for the material.

2. 2
   Send the same material again as a new message.

   AI should produce a new quiz from the same material under the changed rules.