Writing good prompts for course generation
The single biggest lever on first-draft quality. Five rules + a checklist.
The AI wizard does much better when the prompt is specific about who, what, and why. Five rules that consistently lift the first draft a level:
1. Name the audience explicitly
"Workplace safety for warehouse forklift operators" beats "workplace safety". Audience shapes vocabulary, examples, and the level of granularity.
2. State the outcome
End the prompt with "by the end of the course the learner can …". The generator uses this to bias scene goals and to place the right quiz at the right moment.
3. Pick the right ID principle
For procedural tasks (use a tool, follow a workflow), pick Gagné. For conceptual learning, Bloom's. For inquiry-based, 5E. The picker lives below the prompt in the wizard.
4. Upload source materials
A 5-page PDF beats a 200-word prompt. The generator pulls quotes, definitions, and citations directly from your uploads. This is the lever that moves "plausible" → "ours".
5. Set the tone
A single phrase at the end: "professional, no jokes" / "friendly, with examples" / "academic". The narrator's voice and the script cadence follow.
Quick checklist
- Audience named? ✅
- Outcome stated? ✅
- ID principle picked? ✅
- Source materials uploaded? ✅
- Tone set? ✅