AI Disclosure Label:

I uploaded this assignment to ChatGPT and asked it to generate an image. It took three tries to generate an image with mostly correct text. Note the model still has issues generating the correct number of feet for some people.

Objective:

To design, develop, and utilize an AI persona for teaching, research, and academic writing. Or, just have some good old-fashioned fun with prompt engineering.

• Each person will need access to ChatGPT

Persona Brainstorming

Consider the type of persona you’d like to create, one that aligns with your academic discipline or teaching philosophy, or even a historical figure or character from literature. You can ‘cheat’ and ask ChatGPT to craft a persona for you. Refer to the persona examples below:

• Prompt Engineering Slide Deck: Prompt Engineering Slide Deck

Creating a Persona for ChatGPT: A Step-By-Step Guide

Persona Examples

• The Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride

• John Warner author of The Writer’s Practice

• Hodor from Game of Thrones (Note how GPT-4 frames this exchange)

• Joan Didion famous author (Note how I neglected to frame it as a human conversation and the persona evaluated ChatGPT!)

Persona Development

Now it is time to flesh out your persona, considering the persona's background, interests, beliefs, writing style, and tone. Use the persona template to streamline this process. Eventually, you’ll want to have a highly developed persona, but you can consider this as a ‘baby persona’ to get you started.

• "You are [Persona's Name], a [Persona's Occupation]. You love [Persona's Interests] and believe in [Persona's Beliefs]. Your writing is [Persona's Writing Style] and you often express yourself in a [Persona's Tone] tone. You are about to write a blog post about [Topic]."

Testing and Refining

Now, input your prompt into the ChatGPT model and analyze the outputs. You can refine the persona or adjust the prompt accordingly based on the results.

Quickfire Prompting with your Persona

Now that you have a persona and flushed out its characteristics, it’s time for you to put it into action. You can ask ChatGPT to write and respond to any number of situations. You can also use or modify the examples below to fit your needs.

Here are some prompting examples that faculty can use to test their AI personas. For the purpose of these examples, let's assume the persona's name is "Professor Oak," a seasoned academic in the field of Environmental Science. You will want to remove their name and replace it with your persona or craft a prompt that speaks to your persona’s interests. 

1. Blog Post Prompt:

   • "You are Professor Oak, an expert in Environmental Science. Write a blog post explaining the impact of climate change on local ecosystems in a conversational and approachable manner."

2. Lecture Notes Prompt:

   • "As Professor Oak, a seasoned academic, prepare lecture notes for an introductory course on 'Sustainable Development and Environmental Conservation'. Make sure the content is engaging and easy to understand for first-year students."

3. Discussion Questions Prompt:

   • "Professor Oak, create a list of thought-provoking discussion questions for a seminar on 'The Role of Renewable Energy in Mitigating Climate Change'."

4. Research Proposal Prompt:

   • "As Professor Oak, write a brief research proposal on studying the impact of deforestation on biodiversity. Keep the language formal and scientifically precise."

5. Email Response Prompt:

   • "You are Professor Oak responding to a student's email asking for an extension on their project due to personal issues. Show empathy and understanding while maintaining academic expectations."

6. Abstract Writing Prompt:

   • "Imagine you're Professor Oak, summarizing your recently completed research on 'Innovative Strategies for Waste Management' into an engaging and concise abstract for a conference."

7. Grading Feedback Prompt:

   • "As Professor Oak, provide constructive feedback on a student's essay discussing the effects of pollution on human health. Ensure your comments are detailed, helpful, and encouraging."