The Power of Prompt Templates
Thomas Steiner
Head of Cyberlearn, professor and CEO of immotour ltd - digital transformer, tourism expert, consultant and board member
Knowing how to talk to AI, like ChatGPT, can make a big difference. This skill is called prompt engineering, and it's especially handy when you need to get specific answers or results from AI. One cool way to make this happen more smoothly is by using prompt templates. These are like templates you can use over and over, just tweaking a little bit each time to fit your exact need.
This article was first published on my blog good-morning.ai
What are Prompt Templates?
Think of prompt templates as reusable molds that help you shape your questions to AI in a way that gets you the best answers. They’re not just scripts but are more like formulas that guide how you set up your questions. This ensures that the AI understands you clearly and delivers the kind of response you’re looking for. The great thing about these templates is that they are reusable, and you only need to change a small specific part depending on what you’re asking.
How to Write Prompt Templates
Creating a good prompt template starts with knowing what you want from the AI. Once you have a clear goal, you build your question around that goal while being specific enough to avoid any confusion. Here’s what a well-built prompt template includes:
? A direct command or action word that tells the AI exactly what to do.
? Important details that specify your request without overloading it with unnecessary info.
? Adjustments for potential misunderstandings to keep the AI on track.
? Follow-up parts that might ask for more detail or clarify something in steps.
For example, if you keep asking AI about different historical events, your prompt template might look like this: "Summarize the key points of [specific historical event]." You just swap out "[specific historical event]" with "the French Revolution" or "the invention of the telephone" depending on what you need to know about.
Keeping a Template Library
Once you start making these prompt templates, it’s a good idea to keep them organized in a library. This way, you or anyone else can pull them out and use them when needed, saving a lot of time and effort. Make sure to keep this library updated so that all your prompts stay effective and take into account any new ways the AI has learned to respond.
Importance of Prompt Templates
Using prompt templates can make your interactions with AI way more efficient. They are incredibly useful in a bunch of settings, like helping teachers create lessons that use AI or helping businesses handle customer requests faster. For programmers, these templates can simplify debugging software. Basically, these templates turn complex needs into simple, straightforward questions that AI can deal with effectively.
An Example for Course Creations
In the following template, the prompt is designed to generate a course structure for a theme, tailored to a specific role within a distinct context:?
Create the structure for an applied course on "[title]" in the context of "[context]". Take the role of a "[role]". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.?then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
This prompt template is versatile and powerful because it allows anyone to quickly create a specialized course outline by simply replacing elements like the role and context. Let’s break down how this works and why it’s so effective:
How the Prompt Template Functions
The prompt template serves as a framework that outlines the structure of a course. In the given example, the structure includes:
? Course Title and Context: This sets the stage, defining what the course is about and the specific environment or scenario (e.g., "business analysis").
? Duration and Session Details: This specifies how long the course will last and how each session is broken up into introduction and practice segments.
? Detailed Session Breakdown: Each session includes a theme, a brief explanation of what the session will cover, and then a specific sample prompt that relates directly to the context.
By filling in or changing certain parts of this template you can customize the entire course to suit different needs and scenarios.
The true strength of this prompt template lies in its adaptability and efficiency. Here’s why it’s so powerful:
? Customization: You can adapt it to fit any role or context by simply changing a few words or phrases. Whether you need a course for educators in health care, developers in tech startups, or managers in retail, you can set it up with just a few tweaks.
? Ease of Use: Once you have the template, creating a new course outline is as simple as filling in the blanks. This saves time and ensures consistency in how courses are developed.
? Scalability: This approach can be used repeatedly for various disciplines and expertise levels. It’s not limited to a single subject or field.
? Educational Efficiency: For educators, this template allows them to quickly design courses that are structured and comprehensive.
? Practical Application: Each unit ends with a practice session, ensuring that they can apply what they’ve learned immediately. This hands-on approach enhances learning and retention.
Experiments
Imagine you’re an educator tasked with creating a course for marketing professionals on how to use ChatGPT for customer engagement. Using this prompt template, you’d adjust the context to “marketing strategies,” specify roles like “marketing analyst” or “content creator,” and tailor the themes and sample prompts to topics like creating engaging content, handling customer queries, or developing chatbot scripts.
By just filling out this structured template, you can create an entire course designed specifically for the needs of your audience, making this template a powerful tool in educational design and beyond.
Me:
Create the structure for an applied course on "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT" in the context of "Marketing Strategies". Take the role of a "senior marketing lecturer". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.??then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
ChatGPT (4 team edition):
Course Title: "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT for Innovative Marketing Strategies"
Duration: 3 hours
Format: 12 learning units (each unit: 5 minutes introduction + 10 minutes practice)
Senior Marketing Lecturer: As a senior marketing lecturer, my goal is to equip students and professionals with practical skills in prompt engineering, tailored specifically for enhancing marketing strategies using the advanced capabilities of ChatGPT.
Concrete Case Study: Launch of a New Eco-Friendly Skincare Brand
Context: A cosmetic company is launching a new line of eco-friendly skincare products aimed at environmentally conscious consumers aged 25-40. The marketing team needs to use ChatGPT to create engaging content, manage customer interactions, and analyze market trends to ensure a successful product launch.
Unit 1: Understanding ChatGPTs Capabilities
Unit 2: Setting Goals for AI Integration
Unit 3: Audience Analysis
Unit 4: Engaging Product Descriptions
Unit 5: Handling Customer Queries
Unit 6: Content Creation for Social Media
Unit 7: Analyzing Consumer Feedback
领英推荐
Unit 8: Competitor Analysis
Unit 9: Promotional Campaigns
Unit 10: Email Marketing
Unit 11: Crisis Management
Unit 12: Measuring AI Effectiveness
This structured approach combines theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, ensuring participants can effectively integrate ChatGPT into their marketing strategies for maximum impact.
Try it out !
Here are some funny alternatives. Copy-paste them into ChatGPT and let the magic happen !
Example 1
Create the structure for an applied course on "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT" in the context of "Schopenhauer's? tactics for being always right". Take the role of a "green activist participating to a panel discussion on economic growth at the World Economic Forum". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.??then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
Example 2
Create the structure for an applied course on "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT" in the context of "conversational team topologies". Take the role of a "tv roundtable moderator". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.??then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
Example 3
Create the structure for an applied course on "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT" in the context of "chatGPT and academic integrity". Take the role of a "dean of the biology? faculty". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.??then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
Example 4
Create the structure for an applied course on "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT" in the context of "hybrid learning". Take the role of a "teacher". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.??then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
And my favourite one :?
Me:
Create the structure for an applied course on "Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT" in the context of "the symbolic importance of genuine beauty as opposed to mere creativity". Take the role of a "senior philosopher". duration : 3 hours. 12 short learning units, each with an introduction of 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes of practice. first, create a concrete case study in this context. then, for each unit, list the theme, explain with one sentence what it is about. explain with another sentence why this is important.??then give a sample prompt a professional with the role could write for the case in the concrete context.
ChatGPT:
Course Title: "Exploring Aesthetics: Genuine Beauty vs. Mere Creativity through Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT"
Duration: 3 hours
Format: 12 learning units (each unit: 5 minutes introduction + 10 minutes practice)
Role: Senior Philosopher focusing on Aesthetics
Concrete Case Study: The Modern Art Exhibition
Context: In a contemporary art exhibition featuring a mix of classical and modern art pieces, a debate arises over the distinction between genuine beauty and mere creativity. The participants discuss the philosophical implications of this distinction in appreciating art.
Unit 1: Defining Aesthetic Concepts
Unit 2: Historical Perspectives on Beauty
Unit 3: Philosophical Foundations
Unit 4: Artistic Intentions
Unit 5: Cultural Impact on Aesthetics
Unit 6: Subjectivity in Art
Unit 7: Role of Technology in Art
Unit 8: Critiquing Art
Unit 9: Emotional Responses to Art
Unit 10: Symbolism in Art
Unit 11: The Future of Art
Unit 12: Practical Application
This course structure aims to deepen understanding of the philosophical distinctions between beauty and creativity, providing a robust platform for discussion and application in the context of a modern art exhibition.
Prompt templates are indeed a powerful tool for effective AI communication. How do you personalize yours?