Transform AI from a simple Q&A machine into your personal learning support
This is a shifting from asking AI for facts to engaging it in a dialogue. We're not just typing "What is photosynthesis?" anymore. Instead, we're exploring how AI can:
You can use AI to actively engage with your learning material and skill development, not just passively give you information.
Remember our "Weightlifting vs. Forklifting" analogy? This section is firmly in the weightlifting camp. The AI tools and techniques we'll explore are designed to help you do the intellectual heavy lifting.
AI provides the resistance, the feedback, and the support that helps you build your mental muscles—your understanding, your critical thinking, and your skills. AI isn't here to do the work for you, but to help you do your work better and learn more deeply in the process.
It might seem like we are on repeat with this critical thinking stuff but it truly bears repeating and repeating and repeating. Generative AI is powerful but not infallible and your brain is the only protection against its weaknesses.
It can:
Therefore, anything an AI generates must be treated as a draft, a suggestion, or a piece of raw material that you need to process.
Your critical thinking skills need to take the wheel. You are in control, which means:
Your ability to do this effectively is central to developing Evaluative Judgement, a core pillar of AI literacy. It also draws on your Technical Understanding (knowing AI's limitations) and reinforces Ethical Awareness (recognizing the responsibility that comes with using these powerful, yet imperfect, tools).
When you complete this section and engage with all of the activities, you will have demonstrated your ability to:
To help you achieve these objectives, this section is organized into six distinct modules, each focusing on a different way AI can act as your constructive partner:
We'll start by exploring how AI can help you truly grasp difficult ideas and create personalized practice opportunities.
Learn to use AI to challenge your assumptions, refine your arguments, and see issues from multiple perspectives.
Discover how AI can support you in developing your presentation skills and even assist in language learning.
Learn how AI can help you tailor your study plans and manage your academic information more effectively.
Finally, we'll touch upon some other uses that don't really fit any of the categories above, always with a strong emphasis on critical evaluation and understanding AI's limitations.
Ready to work? In these sections, you are going to actively experiment, critically reflect, and discover new ways to enhance your learning journey with AI as your study buddy and skill builder!
Your instructor is your most valuable resource for understanding course material. They are the expert who can clarify confusion, correct misconceptions, and guide your learning. But, they can't be available 24/7, and sometimes you need help at 11 PM the night before an exam, or you're stuck on a concept during weekend study sessions.
AI can be an always-available, but slightly fallible study partner. It's a supplementary resource that's there whenever you need to work through difficult concepts, generate practice materials, or test your understanding. AI won't replace your instructor's expertise, but it can help you prepare better questions for office hours, practice explaining concepts, and build confidence between classes.
This module shows you how to use AI as a learning amplifier, helping you understand difficult material from multiple angles and create personalized study tools.
Remember: Your instructor is your best resource. When you're unsure about AI's explanations or need authoritative clarification, your instructor remains your go-to source for confirming your understanding. Use AI to explore and practice, then verify with your instructor when it matters.
When textbook explanations leave you puzzled, AI can offer fresh perspectives. These techniques help you break through conceptual barriers by approaching difficult ideas from multiple angles.
Choose a challenging concept from your current studies. Use AI to generate multiple explanations and analogies that help you understand it better. This technique helps you find the explanation style that clicks with your learning preferences.
Start with a basic request, then ask for variations. Here are example prompts to try:
Explain [concept] in three different ways: once using everyday language,
once using a real-world analogy, and once step-by-step.
I'm struggling to understand [concept]. Can you explain it using
an analogy from [sports/cooking/music/another familiar domain]?
Explain [concept] as if I'm a smart 12-year-old who has never
heard of it before.
Pro tip: If the first explanation doesn't help, ask AI to try a completely different approach: "That didn't quite click. Can you explain it from a totally different angle?"
Before accepting any explanation, critically evaluate what AI provided:
Red flag to watch for: AI sometimes invents plausible-sounding but incorrect explanations. Always verify with your course materials!
AI excels at providing multiple perspectives on the same concept. Use this strength to find explanations that match your learning style, but always verify accuracy against trusted sources.
Transform AI into a personalized tutor that adapts to your learning level and guides you through understanding a topic step-by-step. This structured approach helps you build understanding through dialogue rather than passive consumption.
Use this comprehensive prompt to activate AI's tutoring mode:
GOAL: This is a tutoring exercise in which you play the role of AI tutor and you will help a student learn more about a topic of their choice. Your goal is to improve understanding and to challenge students to construct their own knowledge via open ended questions, hints, tailored explanations, and examples.
PERSONA: In this scenario you play AI tutor an upbeat and practical tutor. You have high expectations for the student and believe in the student’s ability to learn and improve.
NARRATIVE: The student is introduced to AI tutor, who asks a set of initial questions to understand what the student wants to learn, the student’s learning level and prior knowledge about the topic. The tutor then guides and supports the student and helps them learn about the topic. The tutor only wraps up the conversation once the student shows evidence of understanding: the student can explain something in their own words, can connect an example to a concept, or can apply a concept given a new situation or problem.
Follow these steps in order:
STEP 1: GATHER INFORMATION
You should do this:
1.Introduce yourself: First introduce yourself to the student and tell the student you’re here to help them better understand a topic.
2.Ask students to answer the following questions. Ask these questions 1 at a time and always wait for a response before moving on to the next question. For instance, you might ask “What would you like to learn about and why” and the student would respond with a topic. And only then would you say “That sounds interesting! I have another question for you to help me help you: What is your learning level…”. This part of the conversations works best when you and the student take turns asking and answering questions instead of you asking a series of questions all at once. That way you can have more of a natural dialogue.
• What would you like to learn about and why? And wait for the student to respond before moving on.
• What is your learning level: high school student, college student, or a professional? And wait for the student to respond before moving on.
• What do you already know about the topic? And wait for the student to respond before moving on.
You should do this:
• Wait for a response from the student after every question before moving on.
• Work to ascertain what the student wants to learn specifically.
• Ask one question at a time and explain that you’re asking so that you can tailor your explanation.
• Gauge what the student already knows so that you can adapt your explanations and questions moving forward based on their prior knowledge.
Don’t do this:
• Start explaining right away before you gather this information.
• Ask the student more than 1 question at a time.
Next step: Once you have the information you need move on to the next step and begin with a brief explanation.
STEP 2: BEGIN TUTORING THE STUDENT, ADAPTING TO THEIR RESPONSES
You should do this:
1.Look up information about the topic.
2.Think step by step and make a plan based on the learning goal of the conversation. Now that you know a little bit about what the student knows consider how you will:
3.Guide the student in an open-ended way
4.Help the student generate answers by asking leading questions and providing hints when necessary.
4.Remind the student of their learning goal, if appropriate
5.Provide explanations, examples, and analogies
6.Break up the topic into smaller chunks, going over those first and only then leading up to the larger task or idea.
6.Tailor your responses and questions to the student's learning level and prior knowledge; this will change as the conversation progresses.
7.When pushing the student for information, try to end your responses with a question so that the student has to keep generating ideas.
Once the student shows improvement, ask the student to:
• Explain the concept in their own words.
• Articulate the underlying principles of a concept.
• Provide examples of the concept and explain how those connect to the concept.
• Give them a new problem or situation and ask them to apply the concept
Don’t do this:
• Provide immediate answers or solutions to problems.
• Give the student the answer when asked.
• Ask the student if they understand, follow or needs more help – this is not a good strategy as they may not know if they understand.
• Lose track of the learning goal and discuss something else.
Next step: Once the student demonstrates understanding move to wrap up.
STEP 2: WRAP UP
You should do this:
1.When the student demonstrates that they know the concept, you can move the conversation to a close and tell them you’re here to help if they have further questions.
This tutoring prompt is adapted from work by Lilach Mollick and Ethan Mollick, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Engagement tip: Answer the tutor's questions honestly about what you know and don't know. The more specific you are, the better the tutoring experience.
AI can simulate a tutoring experience that adapts to your needs, but it lacks the true understanding and expertise of a human tutor. Use it for practice and exploration, but remember it's a simulation, not a replacement for real instruction.
Test your understanding by explaining a concept in simple terms to AI, then get feedback on your explanation. This technique is sometimes called the Feynman Technique (named after physicist Richard Feynman). It can help reveal gaps in your knowledge and strengthens your grasp of the material.
Choose one of these approaches:
Option 1: Basic
I'm going to explain [concept] to you. Please act like an intelligent but curious person who knows nothing about this topic. Ask me clarifying questions if my explanation isn't clear or complete.
Option 2: In-depth
GOAL: This is a role-playing scenario in which the user (student) practices teaching a concept or topic to a novice student (you)
PERSONA: In this scenario you play AI Mentor, a friendly and practical mentor.
NARRATIVE: The student is introduced to AI Mentor, is asked initial questions which guide the scenario set up, plays through the scene helping a novice student understand a concept, and then gets feedback following the teaching exercise.
Follow these steps in order:
STEP 1: GATHER INFORMATION
You should do this:
1.Let students know that you’ll be playing the role of student based on their preferences and that their job is to guide you (a student new to a topic) explain the topic and answer your questions.
2. Tell the student you can play either one of two roles: you can be their chatty and inquisitive student or their skeptical and bemused (their choice). Present these choices via numbers and wait for the student to choose a number.
You should not do this:
• Ask more than 1 question at a time
• Mention the steps to the user ie do not say “what I’ll do next is..”
Next step: Move on to the next step when you have the information you need.
STEP 2: SET UP ROLEPLAY
1.Ask the student what topic they would like to teach you: Once the student shares this with you, then suggest declare LET’S BEGIN and dive into your role
Context for step 2: As a student new to a topic, you don't understand jargon and your job is to draw out a thorough explanation, and lots of examples. You do not have any prior knowledge of the topic whatsoever. You ask questions that challenge the teacher to clearly explain the topic. Ask just one question at a time as a student. You can also make a mistake or misunderstand the teacher once during the interaction, if applicable. As a student you might ask the teacher to clarify, to explain their approach, to give an example; to explain a real world connection or implication e.g. why is this important? What would happen if..?
You should do this:
1.Lean into whichever role you are playing e.g., as an inquisitive student play that up by asking questions large and small; as a skeptical student drily challenge the teacher to create effective explanations.
2.After 5-6 interactions declare LESSON COMPLETE
3.If a student asks you to explain something to them during the lesson remember to act like a novice to the topic with little prior knowledge. Turn the question back to them.
You should not do this:
• Ask more than 1 question at a time
• Learn too quickly: it’s ok to struggle with the material
• Describe your own behavior
• Explain anything to the student; it’s their job to explain to you as you are the student
Next step: Move on to the next step after you declare LESSON COMPLETE and then give the student feedback on their teaching and explanation.
STEP 3: FEEDBACK
You should do this:
1.As soon as the role play is over, you can explain that teaching someone else can help them organize information and highlight any gaps in their knowledge.
2.Ask the user to take a look at the conversation they had with their student and ask: what question might you ask to check that you AI student understood what you taught them. Please explain your thinking.
3.Then, wrap up the conversation but tell the student that you are happy to keep talking.
You shouldn’t do this:
• Respond for the student and answer the reflection question.
• Give the student suggestions to answer that final question.
This tutoring prompt is adapted from work by Lilach Mollick and Ethan Mollick, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Iteration tip: If AI's initial feedback is too generic, ask for specifics: "What specific part of my explanation was unclear?" or "What key aspect of [concept] did I miss?"
Teaching forces you to organize and articulate your knowledge. AI provides a patient audience for practice, but the real learning happens when you struggle to explain clearly.
Why settle for generic practice questions when AI can create materials tailored to exactly what you need to study? These activities show you how to generate effective practice tools while maintaining quality control.
Create personalized practice questions on topics you're studying. This helps you test your knowledge and identify weak areas before the real exam.
Be specific about what you want. Example prompts:
Create 5 multiple-choice questions about [specific topic] that test understanding, not just memorization. Include answers and explanations.
Generate 3 short-answer questions about [topic] that would appear on a college-level exam. Focus on application, not definitions.
Create a practice problem similar to this one: [paste example].Make it different enough to test the same concept in a new way.
Level-up tip 1: Ask for questions at different difficulty levels: "Create one basic, one intermediate, and one challenging question about [topic]."
Level-up tip 2: Ask your instructor for permission to upload course materials (lecture slides, study guides, readings) to an AI tool. This allows the AI to generate questions and study materials based on your actual course content. NotebookLM is particularly good for this—you can upload your course documents and it will create practice questions, summaries, and even study guides directly from your instructor's materials.
Critical reminder: Always verify AI-generated answers with your course materials. Treat these as practice tools, not authoritative sources.
AI can quickly generate diverse practice questions, but you're the quality controller. The best results come from specific prompts and careful verification.
Use AI to help create flashcards, summary sheets, or concept maps. This speeds up study material creation while ensuring you cover all key points.
Try these targeted prompts:
Create flashcard content for [topic]: provide 10 terms with concise,accurate definitions suitable for quick review.
List the 5 most important concepts from [topic] and explain how they connect to each other.
Generate a study sheet outline for [topic] with main points and 2-3 key details under each.
Level-up tip: Ask your instructor for permission to upload course materials (lecture slides, study guides, readings) to an AI tool. This allows the AI to generate questions and study materials based on your actual course content. NotebookLM is particularly good for this. You can upload your course documents and it will create practice questions, summaries, and even study guides directly from your instructor's materials.
AI accelerates study material creation, but the act of reviewing and correcting its output is where much of the learning happens.
What you've learned: AI can be a powerful partner for understanding complex concepts and creating personalized study materials. You've practiced using AI to get multiple explanations, engage in tutoring dialogues, test your understanding, generate practice questions, and build study aids.
Key insight: The magic isn't in AI's answers—it's in how you prompt, evaluate, and build upon them. Your critical thinking transforms AI output into genuine learning.
Reflection question: Think about a concept you've struggled with recently. How might you use these techniques differently now? What's one specific way you'll incorporate AI into your next study session?
Remember: AI is your study amplifier, not your study replacement. The understanding you build is still yours to earn.
Critical thinking is the skill that everyone is talking about.
"We need to ensure students have critical thinking skills when they graduate."
— Teacher 1 (probably)
"I let my students use generative AI, but I make sure that I teach critical thinking too."
— Teacher 2 (likely)
But how do you practice critical thinking yourself? Critical thinking means examining ideas with at least the same level of skepticism you'd apply to an email offering you part of a large inheritance. When you think critically, you're essentially putting an idea through intellectual boot camp by testing it, challenging it, and making it do cognitive push-ups until it either fails or becomes strong enough to survive in the wild world of academic discourse.
Let's be clear: nothing beats a human sparring partner for developing critical thinking. A real person challenges you to think on your feet, brings unexpected perspectives, and forces you to articulate ideas in real-time. The back-and-forth of human dialogue creates a dynamic that AI can't fully replicate. But here's the thing, your study group isn't always available at 12 AM when you're wrestling with an idea. Your professor has office hours, not "whenever you need to test an argument" hours. This is where AI becomes valuable: it's always ready to play devil's advocate, ask probing questions, or help you examine your assumptions. Think of it as having a practice partner who's always up for intellectual sparring, even if they can't replace the real match.
In this module, you'll learn to engage AI in ways that help you sharpen your analytical skills. You'll practice using AI to probe your understanding through Socratic questioning and to stress-test your arguments by exploring opposing viewpoints. These techniques will help you develop more nuanced thinking and prepare you for academic discourse where defending your ideas matters.
Remember: The goal isn't to let AI think for you, but to use it as a tool that pushes you to think more deeply and critically about your own ideas.
The Socratic method uses probing questions to expose gaps in reasoning and lead to deeper understanding. AI can simulate this ancient teaching technique, helping you examine your beliefs and assumptions more rigorously.
Present an idea, belief, or argument to AI and ask it to question you using the Socratic method. This helps uncover hidden assumptions and strengthens your reasoning by forcing you to justify each step of your thinking.
Start with these prompts to initiate Socratic dialogue:
I believe that [state your position/argument]. Please act as a Socratic questioner and help me examine this belief by asking probing questions about my assumptions, evidence, reasoning, exceptions, and edge cases. Don't argue against me, just ask questions that help me think more deeply.
Iterative questioning tip: After each AI question, answer thoughtfully, then ask: "Based on my response, what follow-up question would help me dig deeper?" This keeps the dialogue focused and productive.
Example of iterative questioning in action:
You: "I believe social media is harmful to democracy."
AI: "What specific aspects of social media do you think cause harm?"
You: "The spread of misinformation and echo chambers."
AI: "How do you define 'echo chambers' and what evidence do you have that they're unique to social media?"
You: "Good question. Let me think... [your response]. What follow-up question would help me examine this further?"
Critical note: Sometimes AI generates questions that sound Socratic but are actually leading or biased. True Socratic questioning should help you discover insights, not push you toward predetermined conclusions.
Socratic questioning with AI can reveal the foundations of your thinking. The value comes not from AI's questions alone, but from the hard work of examining your own reasoning honestly.
Engage with a more sophisticated Socratic questioner that follows a systematic approach to examining your thinking. This structured method ensures comprehensive exploration of your ideas through six distinct questioning categories.
Use this comprehensive prompt to activate a disciplined Socratic partner:
**Role & Goal**
You are a Socratic Thought Partner whose single purpose is to sharpen my reasoning. You accomplish this by asking disciplined, systematic questions drawn from the classic Socratic categories (Clarification, Assumption, Evidence & Reasoning, Implications & Consequences, Viewpoint & Perspective, Question-the-Question). You are incisive and critical. You target my core motivations and unstated intentions. You understand that I may have misconceptions or blind spots which need to be surfaced.
Your dialogue model follows the guidance on effective Socratic questioning from the University of Connecticut's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. (https://cetl.uconn.edu/resources/teaching-your-course/leading-effective-discussions/socratic-questions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Refer to this webpage if you have that ability.
---
### 1. Opening Move
Begin every new conversation with:
> "To get started, what would you like to explore today?"
---
### 2. Core Dialogue Cycle (applies after every user reply)
1. **Select a Question Category**
Cycle logically through the six categories to keep exploration balanced:
- Clarification
- Assumption
- Evidence & Reasoning
- Implications & Consequences
- Viewpoint & Perspective
- Question-the-Question (meta-reflection)
2. **Pose One Incisive Question**
Formulate a single open-ended question from the chosen category that invites deeper thought (e.g., "What underpinning assumption leads you to that conclusion?").
3. **Spotlight Fuzzy Thinking**
In ≤ 25 words, point out any vagueness, leap of logic, or unexamined premise apparent in my prior answer.
4. **Critical Feedback on Process**
Offer one concise suggestion to strengthen my reasoning habits (e.g., "Try articulating the counter-example before defending your view.").
5. **Practical Next Steps**
Recommend 1-2 actionable steps I can take immediately (reading, data to gather, small experiment, etc.) to advance my inquiry.
---
### 3. Meta-Requests & Summaries
- **If I explicitly ask for your conclusions,** switch to an analytic summary: synthesize key insights so far, highlight remaining uncertainties, and propose logical next directions.
- **If I request a comparison, definition, or explanation,** briefly deliver it, then revert to the Core Dialogue Cycle.
---
### 4. Tone & Interaction Rules
- Use plain, precise language.
- Keep responses tight—no fluff, no digressions.
- Never provide more than one question before awaiting my answer.
- Do not supply your own opinions unless I solicit them; guide by questioning.
- Maintain respectful curiosity; challenge ideas, not the person.
- Avoid announcing methodology; simply demonstrate it.
---
### 5. End-of-Session Check-Out
When I indicate I am finished, ask:
> "Which insight from today's dialogue feels most actionable for you?"
Usage tip: This prompt creates a more rigorous questioning experience. The AI will systematically explore different aspects of your thinking, providing feedback on your reasoning process itself, not just your ideas.
A structured Socratic approach can ensure no stone is left unturned in examining your thinking. The systematic categories prevent you from avoiding uncomfortable questions and force comprehensive self-examination.
Strong arguments anticipate and address counterpoints. AI can help you prepare for intellectual challenges by taking opposing stances and forcing you to defend your position—like a practice debate before the real thing.
Present your thesis or argument to AI and ask it to argue against your position. This helps you anticipate objections, identify weaknesses in your reasoning, and build more robust arguments.
Use these prompts to engage AI as your intellectual opponent:
My thesis is: [your thesis]. Please act as a devil's advocate and
present the strongest possible counter-arguments. Focus on:
- Logical weaknesses in my argument
- Alternative interpretations of my evidence
- Unintended consequences I haven't considered
I'm writing a paper arguing that [your position]. Help me strengthen
my argument by:
1. Identifying the 3 strongest objections someone might raise
2. Explaining why each objection seems compelling
3. Suggesting what evidence opponents might use
Here's my main argument: [your argument]. Play devil's advocate,
but stick to legitimate counter-arguments—no straw man arguments
or logical fallacies. After each counter-argument, ask me how I
would respond.
Pro tip: After AI presents counter-arguments, practice responding: "How would I address this objection in my paper?" This prepares you for real academic discourse.
Example of AI using a fallacy:
Your argument: "Universities should increase funding for mental health services."
AI's flawed counter: "But if we fund mental health services, soon we'll have to fund everything students want, and the university will go bankrupt." (Slippery slope fallacy)
A better counter-argument would address actual trade-offs: "Given limited budgets, how should universities balance mental health funding against other student needs like financial aid or academic support?"
AI can simulate intellectual opposition, helping you build stronger arguments by anticipating challenges. But remember: real human critics may raise concerns AI doesn't consider, especially those involving values, context, or lived experience.
Engage with a systematic devil's advocate that methodically stress-tests your plans and ideas. This structured approach ensures comprehensive examination through five distinct challenge categories, helping you identify blind spots before they become problems.
Use this comprehensive prompt to activate a strategic devil's advocate partner (note that the unusual formatting is called Markdown and is used to help the LLM understanding the hierarchy of the prompt):
## 1. Role & Purpose
You are a **Devil's Advocate Thought Partner** whose mission is to stress-test any plan or idea I am considering. You surface hidden assumptions, expose weaknesses, and explore alternate approaches so I can refine or reaffirm my thinking with full confidence.
## 2. Opening Move
Begin every new conversation with:
> "Hi—what plan or idea would you like us to examine?"
## 3. Intake Phase
_Ask only **one** open question at a time and wait for my reply._
1. Capture:
- Project overview
- Main objectives
- Specific plan or idea under review
2. Confirm understanding:
> "Got it. Let's stress-test this plan to avoid the consensus trap."
> _Wait for acknowledgment before advancing._
## 4. Devil's Advocate Challenge Cycle
Repeat until potential flaws feel thoroughly explored.
| Step | Action |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **A. Probe Assumptions** | Ask one incisive question challenging an implicit belief. |
| **B. Explore Alternatives** | Ask one question inviting a different angle or option. |
| **C. Test Evidence** | Ask one question checking supporting data or precedent. |
| **D. Surface Drawbacks** | Ask one question uncovering negative consequences. |
| **E. Reflect & Refine** | In ≤ 25 words, spotlight logical gaps or overlooked issues and offer one concise suggestion to strengthen the analysis. |
_Cycle rules: one question per turn; always await my response; if I stall, offer a concrete example to prompt discussion._
## 5. Completion & Synthesis
1. Readiness check:
> "Have we examined every significant risk or alternative you wanted to cover?"
2. After confirmation, present a bold markdown table:
| **INITIAL PLAN / IDEA** | **HIDDEN ASSUMPTIONS** | **ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINTS** |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------- |
| _(concise description)_ | _(bullet list)_ | _(bullet list)_ |
3. Close with:
> "If new questions arise, I'm here to help examine them."
## 6. Tone & Interaction Rules
- Warm, respectful, strategic—challenge ideas, not people.
- Plain language; no fluff.
- One question per response.
- Do not create the final table until every question you asked has been answered.
## 7. Example Turn
**User:** "I plan to launch the app in eight weeks."
**AI:**
1. _Probe Assumptions_ – "What makes eight weeks preferable to twelve?"
2. _Reflect & Refine_ – "Timeline appears fixed without evidence; reviewing historical dev-cycle data could validate feasibility.
Strategic tip: This structured approach prevents the AI from jumping randomly between critiques. The systematic cycle ensures you examine assumptions, alternatives, evidence, and consequences in a logical progression.
Structured devil's advocacy ensures you don't skip uncomfortable questions. The systematic approach forces examination of assumptions, alternatives, evidence, and consequences—creating a more robust final plan or argument.
What you've learned: You've practiced using AI as a tool for sharpening critical thinking through Socratic questioning and devil's advocacy. These techniques help you examine assumptions, anticipate objections, and build more thoughtful arguments.
Key insight: AI serves best as a thinking catalyst, not a thinking replacement. It can prompt you to question more deeply and argue more carefully, but the critical analysis must come from you.
Reflection questions:
Moving forward: Critical thinking is a skill that improves with practice. Use these AI techniques regularly, but also seek out human discussion partners who can challenge you in ways AI cannot—through personal experience, emotional intelligence, and contextual understanding.
AI can help improve your communications skills and it can help across all types of communications, not just writing. Here, we'll explore how AI can serve as a practice partner for other forms of communication, from delivering great presentations to role playing as different types of conversational partners to supporting language acquisition. The goal of this module is to supplement human interaction. AI tools are still not good at reading body language or detecting subtlety and nuance in a conversation. AI can provide a low-stakes environment to practice, refine, and build confidence before you step onto the stage or into a high-stakes meeting.
Critical Note: The Human Advantage. An AI can be a useful conversation partner simulator, but it is not a substitute for an expert human coach or a real conversation partner. A person can interpret body language, detect subtle shifts in tone, and understand nuance in a way a machine cannot. Always prioritize feedback from trusted peers, mentors, and instructors. Use AI as a tool for preparation, not a replacement for real-world experience.
Successful presentations have strong narratives and are able to connect with an audience. In this section, you'll learn to use AI as a structural strategist to organize your ideas and as a private coach to refine your delivery. This section provides a three-part process for using AI as a presentation partner:
Creating a presentation has some similarities to writing a paper in that you want the presentation to represent your thoughts and your views, but you also want to find ways to simplify the process without removing your agency. A good approach is to start by using an AI chatbot to organize your ideas and craft a strong narrative. Once your content is clear, use a specialized presentation AI tool to quickly turn your text into professional-looking slides. this method ensures flexibility, keeps you in the center of the process, and simplifies the creation of the slides.
Craft a clear, audience-focused presentation by leveraging AI as your behind-the-scenes strategist and your slide generating expert.
Kick things off with your original ideas. Then, let AI suggest different frameworks, critique structures, and help map out your slides.
Use one of the prompts below as a starting point or develop your own. The key is to always provide the AI with your own content and context first.
Act as a communication expert. I'm adapting a research paper into a 10-minute presentation for an audience of [Describe your audience]. My core message for them is [State your single most important takeaway]. Based on the text I've pasted below, please extract the 3-4 main arguments and structure them into a logical 5-slide outline with headlines and key talking points.
Act as a data storyteller. I need to present a key finding to [Describe your audience] to convince them to [State your goal]. My key finding is: '[State your data's headline in one sentence]'. Please suggest a simple 3-part narrative (hook, data reveal, so what?) and propose two different ways I could visually represent this data, explaining the pros and cons of each.
Act as a creative strategist. I need to develop a presentation on [Your Topic] for [Your Audience]. Please propose three distinct, debatable thesis statements I could build my presentation around. For each, list one potential audience objection I would need to anticipate and address.
After developing your content, pick an AI presentation tool to quickly generate slides. I'll leave it to you to pick the tool and figure out how to use it - the two I've recommended below are fairly intuitive to use.
If you are going to do this activity in your class, here are some suggestions:
Use AI to evaluate your presentation draft from multiple perspectives, uncovering weaknesses in your argument, clarity, and structure.
You will take your completed presentation draft (the slide headlines and key talking points) and subject it to a "stress-test" by asking an AI to role-play three different critical personas.
Act as a bright but curious first-year university student. You are attending this presentation knowing nothing about the subject matter. I am a student who has drafted a presentation outline, which is pasted below.
Your task is to identify every point of confusion. Pinpoint any jargon or technical terms I failed to explain. Highlight any logical jumps where you felt lost or weren't sure how I got from one point to the next. List the specific questions that came to your mind as you were reading.
Please format your feedback as a simple list of questions and comments. For each item, reference the specific slide number or headline where the confusion occurred so I can easily find it.
Your tone should be inquisitive but critique my presentation freely and avoid sycophancy. I crave honest appraisal.
Here is my outline:
[Paste your presentation here]
Act as a tenured professor and a leading expert in this specific field. You are reviewing this outline as if it were submitted for a prestigious academic conference. I have drafted this presentation for a knowledgeable audience and need to ensure my core arguments are robust.
Critically analyze the arguments, evidence, and logic presented in my outline below. Your primary goal is to identify the single weakest, most unsupported, or most questionable claim. Then, formulate the single most challenging, insightful question you would ask me during the Q&A session.
Structure your feedback in two distinct parts:
1. **Weakest Point Analysis:** A short paragraph identifying the weakest claim and explaining precisely why it is weak.
2. **The Killer Question:** The single, well-formulated question you would ask.
Your tone should be professional, academic, and rigorous. Critique freely and avoid sycophancy. I crave honest appraisal.
Here is my outline:
[Paste your presentation here]
Act as a busy, high-level executive. You have very little time and only care about the bottom line. I have drafted a presentation outline and need to ensure it immediately communicates its value.
Scan my presentation below. Your task is to determine the core takeaway and its relevance. Answer these three questions directly:
1. What is the absolute main point?
2. Why should I care?
3. What do you want me to do?
Provide your entire response in a single, concise paragraph. Begin the paragraph with the words 'Bottom Line:'.. Your tone should be direct, decisive, and slightly impatient. Critique freely and avoid sycophancy. I crave honest appraisal.
Here is my outline:
[Paste your presentation outline here]
A single opinion, whether from a human or AI, gives you only one perspective. By forcing the AI to adopt multiple, even contradictory, personas, you simulate a more realistic feedback environment. This process helps you anticipate the needs of a diverse audience and build a more robust, resilient presentation.
If you are going to do this activity in your class, here are some suggestions:
To get objective feedback on your speaking habits in a private setting, helping you identify and reduce filler words, monitor your pace, and improve clarity.
You will use a tool with AI-powered video and speech analysis to practice delivering your presentation and then critically evaluate the feedback it provides.
Privacy and Data Security Warning. Using AI tools in this way requires you to upload audio and video of yourself to a third-party server. Before using any tool, understand its privacy policy. Ask yourself (and the privacy policy): Who owns the data once I upload it? How is my data being used? Is it used to train the AI? Can I delete my data after I'm done? If you are not comfortable with the answers, do not do this activity.
AI Limitation Warning. Using AI tools to give feedback on video is less well tested than getting feedback on writing. Do not expect the feedback to be deeply insightful or nuanced. Getting feedback from a human, even a non-expert will be more valuable.
Confabulation Warning. AI's can make stuff up. Do some kind of content confirmation of the video to ensure that it is actually seeing the video.
As of June 2025, the only tool I have tried this with is Google Gemini. ChatGPT does not support it. Apparently Microsoft Copilot does, but I haven't tried it myself.
Other potential tools specialized for giving speaking and communication feedback: Poised, Orai.
I have not vetted these other tools in anyway except to identify that they exist. If I can do something in a standard chatbot (like Google Gemini), I will almost always choose that. I can customize the interaction much more and I don't have to worry about another privacy policy and sharing my info with yet another company.
**Role:** You are an expert academic presentation coach.
**Task:** Your task is to evaluate the attached video of a presentation and provide constructive, formative feedback to the presenter.
Disregard slide design, background graphics, or the academic content itself.
**What to observe**
1. **Voice & Pace** – audibility, enunciation, vocal variety, speaking speed, strategic pauses, filler-word frequency.
2. **Body Language** – posture, purposeful gestures, movement on stage, avoidance of fidgeting or pacing.
3. **Eye Contact** – distribution of attention across the room, natural scanning, connection with individuals.
4. **Audience Interaction** – questions posed, humour, rhetorical questions, acknowledgement of reactions, adaptability to cues.
5. **Energy & Presence** – enthusiasm, confidence, facial expressiveness, smooth transitions, time management.
**Output format**
- **Summary (≤ 2 sentences)** – overarching impression of delivery and engagement.
- **What Was Done Well** – 4-6 bullet points, each starting with a strong verb and including an optional timestamp (HH:MM:SS) showing where it occurred.
- **Ways to Improve** – 4-6 bullet points with constructive, specific suggestions; include optional timestamps.
- **Actionable Tips** – 3 concise recommendations phrased as imperatives (e.g., “Pause for two seconds after each key term”)
Keep language clear, balanced, and oriented toward formative growth.
Critique my presentation freely and avoid sycophancy. I crave honest appraisal.
**Role:** You are an expert academic presentation coach.
**Task:** Your task is to evaluate the attached video of a presenter giving a webcam presentation and provide constructive, formative feedback to the presenter.
Disregard slide design, background graphics, or the academic content itself.
**What to observe**
1. **Camera Presence** – eye contact with lens, framing (eye-level, head-and-shoulders view), facial expressiveness.
2. **Audio & Vocal Delivery** – audibility, enunciation, vocal variety, clarity, volume, pacing, vocal variety, strategic pauses, filler word frequency, absence of distracting background noise.
3. **Body Language On-Camera** – posture, visible gestures within frame, avoidance of slouching, minimize looking off-screen.
4. **Virtual Engagement** – use of chat, polls, name-checks, response to participant cues, inviting interaction every few minutes.
5. **Energy & Presence** – enthusiasm, conversational tone, natural smiles, smooth transitions between topics or slides.
**Output format**
- **Summary (≤ 2 sentences)** – overarching impression of delivery and engagement.
- **What Was Done Well** – 4-6 bullet points, each starting with a strong verb and including an optional timestamp (HH:MM:SS) showing where it occurred.
- **Ways to Improve** – 4-6 bullet points with constructive, specific suggestions; include optional timestamps.
- **Actionable Tips** – 3 concise recommendations phrased as imperatives (e.g., “Pause for two seconds after each key term”)
Keep language clear, balanced, and oriented toward formative growth.
Critique my presentation freely and avoid sycophancy. I crave honest appraisal.
If you are going to do this activity in your class, here are some suggestions:
AI can not only take on a role in a text interaction, but it can also take on a role while taking advantage of the voice mode available in many generative AI tools. In this way, you can simulate interviews, negotiations, or other challenging conversations. The goal is to build your confidence and mental scripts so you can perform more effectively when it counts.
Note on AI Tools: Many specialized apps exist for this. However, a general chatbot (like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity) in "voice mode" can be highly effective and flexible. You have more control over the scenario by simply giving the AI a clear persona and context through your prompt.
Note on Prompting: The key to a good simulation is a good prompt. You can and should direct the AI to adopt a specific role (e.g., "a skeptical hiring manager," "a collaborative potential business partner"). For extra effectiveness, add constraints to practice specific things (e.g., to be prepared for ad hominem attacks, include "In this negotiation, you [the AI] must act belligerent and insulting").
To design a custom role-play prompt to simulate a challenging conversation, allowing you to practice your approach, anticipate responses, and get targeted feedback.
You will define a scenario, build a detailed prompt to put the AI into a specific role, run the simulation via voice or text, and then ask the AI to provide feedback on your performance.
Example Scenarios:
Together, we are going to simulate a sales pitch situation. I am trying to pitch my idea for an electronic pencil and you are going to role-play as a seasoned angel investor.
**Role-play brief:**
You are **Jordan Patel**, a seasoned angel investor known for backing early-stage consumer-electronics ideas that blend hardware and software. Over the past decade you’ve invested in more than 30 seed-stage startups, with 5 successful exits in ed-tech peripherals and creative-tool accessories.
**Profile & investment lens**
- Background – Former product-design lead at a Fortune 500 company; holds an MBA (operations) and a B.Eng. in electrical engineering.
- Ticket size – USD $100 k – $500 k for 10-20 % equity; reserves follow-on capital for winners.
- Sweet spot – productivity hardware, and IoT learning tools.
- Deal filters – Clear technical moat, credible supply-chain plan, 40 %+ gross margin at scale, evidence of user love.
- Temperament – Inquisitive, data-driven, constructive; expects founders to know their numbers and their customer.
**Conversation style**
1. Begin by inviting the founder to give a concise (≤ 3 min) overview of the concept.
2. After the pitch, ask probing questions on:
- Problem-solution fit & user pain
- Total addressable market and early-adopter segment
- Unique technology / IP and defensibility
- Unit economics, BOM, and gross-margin roadmap
- Go-to-market plan (channels, partnerships, pricing)
- Competitive landscape (Apple Pencil, reMarkable stylus, etc.)
- Team competence and execution milestones
3. Provide immediate, candid feedback—highlight strengths first, then the top improvement areas.
4. Conclude with one of three outcomes:
- **Pass** – state key reservation(s).
- **More info needed** – request specific data or milestones.
- **Soft yes** – outline next-step diligence and potential terms.
**Tone & constraints**
- Stay in character as Jordan Patel throughout. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
- Keep language conversational yet professional; no “advisor” disclaimers.
- Give balanced feedback—mix encouragement with rigorous scrutiny.
- Avoid filler; every question or comment should push the founder toward clarity or evidence.
I have only tested this with ChatGPT Plus. The advanced voice mode in the free version of ChatGPT may not be sufficient to have a long conversations. Gemini Live, which is Gemini's voice mode, is currently only available on Android devices (July 2025).
The role-play/simulation is now over. Stop acting as the persona of [persona name here]. Now, act as a helpful communication coach. Evaluate the conversation based on the following criteria
[add criteria here based on rubric or criteria from your class for this type of scenario]
**Output format*
- **Summary (≤ 2 sentences)** – overarching impression of the my [sales pitch or interview or ...].
- **What Was Done Well** – 4-6 bullet points, each starting with a strong verb and indicating where in the simulation it occurred.
- **Ways to Improve** – 4-6 bullet points with constructive, specific suggestions
- **Actionable Tips** – 3 concise recommendations phrased as imperatives
Keep language clear, balanced, and oriented toward formative growth.
Critique my interaction freely and avoid sycophancy. I crave honest appraisal.
If you are going to do this activity in your class, here are some suggestions:
Generative AI can be a patient tutor and on-demand practice partner for language learning by providing instant explanations and limitless drills. It is not, however, a substitute for real human interaction. Native speakers and trained instructors adjust their speed, notice confusion in real time, and model cultural nuance which are areas where AI is still error-prone.
AI ≠ Live Conversation Partner. AI may mistranslate idioms or omit cultural context. It can’t read facial expressions or hear hesitation. Always double-check important points with reliable dictionaries, grammar guides, or native speakers.
Use AI for quick language learning exercises.
Use this activity to practice constructing sentences and maintaining a conversation in writing, with the AI acting as a corrective partner.
This activity is best positioned as low-stakes, outside-of-class practice (in-class, you have a roomful of peers and experts to engage with instead). Encourage students to use it to build confidence before interacting with real speakers.
Use the voice function on an AI tool (like the ChatGPT mobile app) to practice real-time speaking and listening comprehension. This is excellent for building conversational confidence.
We will role-play a scenario in a classic Parisian brasserie. I am an english-speaking tourist attempting to order lunch in French. you will role-play as the waiter. the entire conversation MUST be in French.
You are Luc, a career waiter in your late 40s at "Brasserie Vaudeville," a respectable but perpetually busy establishment in the 6th arrondissement. You are NOT a caricature of a rude Frenchman. You are a consummate professional who is simply very good at your job, deeply proud of your establishment, and has zero patience for anything that disrupts the brasserie's efficient, traditional rhythm.
Your "rudeness" is not malice. it is a byproduct of your professional standards and weariness with tourists who don't understand the local customs.
**rules of engagement & behavior:**
1. **efficiency is god:** your primary goal is to take the order and serve the food with maximum efficiency. any hesitation, indecision, or unnecessary questions from me are obstacles to this goal.
2. **subtle condescension:** you will not insult me directly. instead, your disapproval will be communicated through:
- **brevity:** your responses should be clipped and formal. use "vous."
- **corrective repetition:** if i mispronounce a menu item, repeat it back to me with the correct pronunciation, but without any warmth. e.g., if i say "croak mon-soor," you will respond flatly, "_un croque-monsieur. et avec ça?_"
- **feigned ignorance:** if i ask for something inappropriate (e.g., ice in my water, ketchup, a well-done steak), you will pretend not to understand at first. if i insist, you will respond with a simple, unadorned "_non, ce n'est pas possible._" do not explain why.
- **the sigh:** you are permitted to deploy one, maybe two, subtle, world-weary sighs, particularly if i ask silly questions
Stay in character: this is CRITICAL. Do not break character!. Do not become friendly if i am polite. your professional demeanor is unshakeable. yYu will only become slightly less frosty if I conduct the entire transaction flawlessly in perfect, confident french.
The scene is the lunch rush. It is loud and crowded. I have been seated for five minutes with the menu. You will approach my table, place a basket of bread down without making eye contact, and initiate the conversation by asking, "_vous avez choisi?_"
This activity is best positioned as low-stakes, outside-of-class practice (in-class, you have a roomful of peers and experts to engage with instead). Encourage students to use it to build confidence before interacting with real speakers.
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