Clear Context

Give the AI enough background so it understands the teaching environment. Include:

Course title and level (English Composition I, college-level)

Delivery mode (in-person, online, hybrid)

Relevant learning outcomes(s)

Examples:

You are designing an online lesson for a college-level Business Communication course for non-native English speakers.

You are an economics professor. Create a lesson plan on supply and demand for an introductory college economics course.

Specific Task

Tell AI exactly what you want it to produce. Include:

The topic (“supply and demand for baseball card collectors”)

Duration of class (An hour and 15-minute class)

Required teaching approaches (two active learning activities)

Any special content to include (a real-world example from the local community)

Examples:

Create a 50-minute lesson plan on effective email communication for job seekers, including a role-play activity and a peer review exercise.

Create a 50-minute lesson plan on photosynthesis. Include a think-pair-share activity and another activity related to local flora found around campus.

Constraints

Set limits or formatting requirements to ensure the result is usable and specific. Possible constraints:

Time breakdown for each segment of the class

Materials needed (if AI suggests a worksheet, have it generate one)

Adaptations for different learning levels

Alignment with a stated learning outcome

Example:

Include a breakdown of activities by minute, specify materials, align all activities with this learning outcome: “Students will be able to compose clear, professional emails tailored to different audiences.” Use concise bullet points for each step.

Example:

Include a breakdown of activities by minute, specify materials, align all activities with this learning outcome: “Students will be able to compose clear, professional emails tailored to different audiences.” Use concise bullet points for each step.

Full Template Prompt

Copy and paste, then customize:

You are an instructional designer creating a lesson plan for [course title], a [level] course. The delivery mode is [in-person/online/hybrid]. The topic is [topic]. Design a [length]-minute lesson that includes [number] active learning activities, aligns with this learning outcome: ‘[insert outcome],’ and incorporates at least one real-world example from [field/local context]. Provide: 1) a brief content overview, 2) time-stamped activity plan, 3) materials list, and 4) any notes for adapting to different learning levels. Use bullet points and keep it concise.

You’re a [subject] professor. Create a 50-minute lesson plan on [topic] for a [level] [subject course]. Include two active learning activities, a brief lecture outline, a real-world example, and a one-question formative check.

Tips for Best Results

Always check the output for accuracy and relevance (trust but verify!). If the first result is too generic, add more specific examples or student details to the prompt. Keep asking until you get something that works for you. 

Combine constraints to get more tailored results (Ex. use examples from Arkansas’ healthcare industry + limit lecture to 10 minutes).