AI Literacy Toolkit: Trying AI Tools

Interactive series of learning modules for NEIU students, faculty, and staff who want to develop basic skills in AI use

🎯 Prompt Engineering Essentials

Learn to write clear, specific prompts that get better AI results every time. Master the art of communicating effectively with AI systems.

You'll learn: The SPEC framework for effective prompts, advanced prompting techniques, how to troubleshoot common problems, and practical exercises to improve your AI interactions.

🎨 Understanding the SPEC Framework

📝
Examples... Context

Provide examples of desired output and set the context for AI's role and constraints.

Before & After:
  • ❌ "Write professionally" → ✅ "Write in a formal tone like: 'I am writing to request...'"
  • ❌ "Help with my email" → ✅ "You are a writing coach. Help me write a professional email to my professor"
Impact: Examples and context guide AI toward your preferred style and approach.
🧠
Chain of Thought & Constraints

Ask AI to show reasoning steps and set clear boundaries for the response.

Techniques:
  • Reasoning: "Think through this step-by-step and show your reasoning..."
  • Constraints: "Limit to 200 words, use bullet points, avoid technical jargon"
  • Negative prompting: "Don't include historical background or theoretical concepts"
Impact: You get transparent reasoning and responses that meet your exact specifications.

🛠️ Prompt Improvement Strategies

🔍
Add Specific Details

Include length, format, audience, tone, and constraints. The more specific you are, the better the output.

🎯
Define Your Goal

Clearly state what you want to achieve with the response and how you'll use it.

📝
Provide Examples

Show the AI what good output looks like by including examples or formatting preferences.

🔄
Iterate and Refine

Start with a basic prompt, then add details and constraints based on the initial response.

🔧 Common Problems & Quick Fixes

❌ Problem: Generic, Unhelpful Responses
"AI gives me vague, general answers that don't help with my specific situation."
Lack of context and specificity
✅ Solution: Add Context & Constraints
"Add specific context, define your audience, include examples, and set length constraints to get focused, relevant responses."
Targeted prompts produce useful outputs
❌ Problem: AI Goes Off-Topic
"AI includes information I don't need or doesn't stay focused on my main question."
Insufficient scope definition
✅ Solution: Use Negative Prompting
"Use negative prompting ('Don't include...'), be more specific about scope, and break complex requests into smaller prompts."
Clear boundaries keep AI focused

💪 Prompt Improvement Challenge

Improve This Poor Prompt
"Help me with my homework"
Add Specificity: What subject? What type of assignment? What grade level?
Define Purpose: What kind of help do you need? Understanding concepts? Writing assistance? Checking work?
Provide Examples: What format do you want? What style or approach works for you?
Set Context: What's your current understanding? What's challenging you? What's the deadline?
Improved Version: "I'm a college sophomore struggling with my biology lab report on photosynthesis. Can you help me understand how to interpret my data on light wavelength effects? I need to understand what my results mean so I can write my own conclusion section."

📚 SPEC Framework Quick Reference

Specific
Be clear and detailed about what you want. Include length, format, and output requirements.
Example: "Write a 300-word summary in bullet points" instead of "summarize this"
Purpose
State your goal clearly and explain how you'll use the AI's response.
Example: "to help me prepare for my presentation" instead of just asking for information
Examples
Provide samples of your desired output style, format, or approach.
Example: "Write like this: 'First, consider... Next, evaluate... Finally, conclude...'"
Context
Set the scene, define AI's role, and specify your audience or constraints.
Example: "You are a career counselor helping a recent graduate" sets helpful context

🚀 Your Prompt Engineering Action Plan

Master the Basics
Develop Advanced Skills
Build Your Prompt Library

AI Quiz: Prompt Engineering Essentials

🧠 Test Your Knowledge: Prompt Engineering Essentials

Check your understanding of effective prompt engineering and the SPEC framework.

1
Fill in the blank: The SPEC framework stands for Specific, Purpose, ________, and Context.
2
Which prompt would likely produce the BEST results?
3
True or False: Adding constraints and limitations to your prompts usually makes AI responses less helpful.

🤖 Getting Started with ChatGPT

ChatGPT is the most popular AI chatbot for conversations, writing help, and problem-solving. Let's get you set up and comfortable with this powerful tool in just a few minutes.

You'll learn: Account setup process, interface navigation, effective conversation techniques, practical applications for work and study, and essential safety guidelines.

🚀 Setting Up ChatGPT

💰
Free vs. Paid Plans

Understand the differences between free and ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) accounts.

Free Account:
  • Access to GPT-3.5 model
  • Usage limits during peak times
  • Standard response speed
  • Basic conversation features
ChatGPT Plus: Faster responses, GPT-4 access, priority during high demand, and advanced features.
🔧
Essential Settings

Adjust important settings for privacy and optimal experience.

Recommended Settings:
  • Turn off chat history if discussing sensitive topics
  • Enable dark mode for comfortable viewing
  • Review data usage and retention policies
  • Set up any organization-specific access
Privacy Note: OpenAI may use conversations to improve their models unless you disable chat history.

🛠️ Effective Conversation Strategies

🎯
Start with Clear Prompts

Be specific about what you want. Include context, format preferences, and your intended use.

🔄
Build on Responses

Use follow-up questions to deepen understanding or refine outputs. ChatGPT remembers your conversation context.

📝
Provide Examples

Show ChatGPT what you want by including examples or describing your preferred style and format.

Iterate and Improve

Don't settle for the first response. Ask for revisions, different approaches, or additional perspectives.

💬 First Conversation Practice

Try This First
"Explain photosynthesis in simple terms that a college student would understand."
Goal: See how ChatGPT explains complex topics clearly
Then Follow Up
"Can you give me a good analogy for that process?"
Goal: Practice asking follow-up questions to deepen understanding
Continue Building
"Create 3 study questions about photosynthesis for my biology exam."
Goal: See how ChatGPT can help with study materials
Reflect on Results
How did ChatGPT's explanations compare to your expectations? Were follow-ups relevant? Did you notice anything to verify elsewhere?
Goal: Develop critical evaluation skills

📚 Popular Use Cases Challenge

Choose a Use Case to Practice
Pick one area that interests you and try the suggested prompts to get comfortable with ChatGPT's capabilities.
Writing Support: "Help me improve the clarity of this paragraph: [paste text]" or "Draft a professional email requesting a meeting with my professor."
Research & Learning: "What are the main arguments for and against renewable energy?" or "Explain the causes of World War I from different historical perspectives."
Problem Solving: "Help me break down this problem into manageable steps: [describe your challenge]" or "Brainstorm creative solutions for reducing food waste on campus."
Analysis & Organization: "Create a comparison table for different study methods based on effectiveness and time required" or "Help me organize my research notes into a logical outline."
Remember: Start simple, then build complexity as you get more comfortable with ChatGPT's responses and capabilities.

⚠️ Essential Safety Guidelines

Always Verify Facts
Check important information, dates, and claims with reliable sources
Example: Verify statistics, historical events, or scientific facts before using in important work
Protect Privacy
Never share personal information, passwords, or confidential data
Example: Don't input SSNs, bank details, or sensitive company information
Give Proper Credit
Acknowledge ChatGPT's assistance in academic and professional work
Example: Note "with assistance from ChatGPT" in your work when appropriate
Use as Enhancement
ChatGPT should augment your thinking, not replace it
Example: Use for brainstorming and drafts, but apply your own judgment and expertise

🚀 Your ChatGPT Getting Started Plan

Get Set Up
Practice Conversations
Develop Good Habits

AI Quiz: Getting Started with ChatGPT

🧠 Test Your Knowledge: Getting Started with ChatGPT

Check your understanding of ChatGPT setup, best practices, and safety guidelines.

1
Select ALL the essential safety guidelines you should follow when using ChatGPT:
2
True or False: ChatGPT remembers your conversation context within the same chat session, allowing you to build on previous responses.
3
What is the main difference between free ChatGPT and ChatGPT Plus?

✏️ Writing and Research Assistants

Beyond ChatGPT, there are specialized AI tools designed specifically for writing, research, and academic work. Let's explore the most useful options and learn when to use each one.

🎯

You'll learn: Specialized AI tools for different tasks, how to choose the right tool for your needs, practical application strategies, and hands-on practice scenarios to build your toolkit.

🛠️ AI Tool Categories

🔍
Perplexity AI
Free + Pro

Combines search with AI to provide sourced answers. Great for current information and research.

Best for: Research with citations, current events, fact-checking
Try Perplexity
🌐
Microsoft Copilot
Free

Microsoft's AI integrated with Bing search. Good for research and web-connected information.

Best for: Current information, integrated with Microsoft Office
Try Copilot
🔄
QuillBot
Free + Premium

Paraphrasing and rewriting tool that helps improve clarity and avoid repetition.

Best for: Paraphrasing, improving sentence flow, citation help
Try QuillBot
💡
Notion AI
Paid Add-on

AI integrated into Notion workspace for note-taking, summarizing, and organizing ideas.

Best for: Note organization, brainstorming, project planning
Try Notion
📊
Elicit
Free + Plus

Research assistant that helps find, summarize, and extract data from academic papers.

Best for: Literature reviews, data extraction, research synthesis
Try Elicit
🕸️
Research Rabbit
Free

Discovers related research papers and visualizes connections between studies.

Best for: Finding related research, exploring research networks

🛠️ Tool Selection Strategies

🎯
Match Tool to Task

Use specialized tools for specific needs rather than trying to make one tool do everything.

🔄
Combine Tools Strategically

Different AI tools work well together - use multiple tools in sequence for best results.

💰
Start with Free Tiers

Most tools offer free versions - test them thoroughly before upgrading to paid plans.

📈
Build Proficiency Gradually

Master one tool at a time rather than trying to learn all tools simultaneously.

⚖️ When to Use Which Tool

🔍 For Current Information Research
Use Perplexity AI or Microsoft Copilot when you need recent data, current events, or real-time information with sources.
Best for: Market trends, recent studies, current affairs
📚 For Academic Literature Review
Use Consensus or Elicit when you need peer-reviewed sources, systematic research, or evidence-based analysis.
Best for: Thesis research, literature reviews, scientific papers
✏️ For Writing Enhancement
Use Grammarly for grammar and style, QuillBot for paraphrasing, or Claude for substantive content development.
Best for: Polishing drafts, improving clarity, content creation
📊 For Document Analysis
Use Claude for analyzing PDFs and complex documents, or Notion AI for organizing and synthesizing information.
Best for: Research synthesis, document review, data analysis

🎯 Hands-On Practice Challenge

Choose a Scenario to Practice
Select one scenario below and follow the tool recommendations to build your AI toolkit experience.
📝 Research Paper Scenario: Use Consensus to find research → Claude to analyze papers and create outline → Grammarly to polish your draft
📊 Literature Review Scenario: Use Elicit to survey existing research → Research Rabbit to find related studies → Notion AI to organize findings
💼 Professional Report Scenario: Use Perplexity AI for current market data → Claude to analyze and synthesize → QuillBot to refine language
🔍 Fact-Checking Scenario: Use multiple tools to verify claims → Cross-reference with different AI sources → Document your verification process
Pro Tip: Start with the beginner scenario that matches your current needs, then gradually try more complex workflows.

📚 Essential Tool Knowledge

Specialized vs. General AI
Specialized tools excel at specific tasks, while general tools like ChatGPT handle many tasks adequately
Example: Grammarly for grammar vs. ChatGPT for general writing help
Tool Integration
Using multiple AI tools in sequence to create a complete workflow
Example: Research with Consensus → Analyze with Claude → Edit with Grammarly
Free vs. Paid Features
Understanding what you get with free tiers vs. premium subscriptions
Example: Grammarly free offers basic grammar, premium adds style and tone suggestions
Source Integration
Tools that provide citations and sources vs. those that generate content without references
Example: Perplexity provides sources, ChatGPT typically does not

🚀 Your AI Toolkit Action Plan

Explore Core Tools
Practice Tool Integration
Build Your Workflow

AI Quiz: Writing and Research Assistants

🧠 Test Your Knowledge: Writing and Research Assistants

Check your understanding of specialized AI tools and when to use them for writing and research tasks.

1
Which AI tool would be MOST appropriate for conducting academic research that requires peer-reviewed sources?
2
True or False: It's better to use one general AI tool for all tasks rather than combining multiple specialized tools.
3
Fill in the blank: When building an AI toolkit, you should start with ________ tiers to test tools before upgrading to paid plans.

🎨 Creative and Visual AI

AI has revolutionized creative work, making professional-quality design, image generation, and multimedia content accessible to everyone. Explore these powerful tools for visual storytelling, presentations, and creative projects.

🚀

You'll learn: Image generation tools, design automation platforms, video and audio creation, practical applications for academic and professional work, and ethical considerations for creative AI use.

🖼️ Visual AI Tool Categories

🎭
Midjourney
Discord/Paid

Premium AI art generator known for artistic quality and style versatility. Requires Discord.

Best for: Artistic projects, marketing materials, creative exploration
Try Midjourney
🆓
Leonardo AI
Free + Pro

Free alternative with good quality and multiple style options. Great for experimenting.

Best for: Budget-conscious users, learning prompt writing, batch generation
Try Leonardo
Adobe Firefly
Free + CC

Professional AI design tools integrated with Adobe Creative Suite for advanced editing.

Best for: Professional projects, photo editing, advanced design work
Try Firefly
🎯
Figma AI
Free + Pro

AI features in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design work.

Best for: UI design, wireframes, collaborative projects, prototyping
Try Figma
🎵
ElevenLabs
Free + Pro

AI voice generation for creating narration, podcasts, and audio content with natural voices.

Best for: Presentation narration, language learning, accessibility features
Try ElevenLabs
🎞️
Loom AI
Free + Business

AI-enhanced screen recording with automatic transcription and video summaries.

Best for: Tutorial creation, presentation recording, remote collaboration
Try Loom

🛠️ Creative AI Strategies

🎯
Start with Clear Concepts

Define your visual goals before choosing tools. Different AI tools excel at different creative tasks.

🔄
Iterate and Experiment

Generate multiple variations and refine your prompts to achieve the desired creative outcome.

🎨
Combine Multiple Tools

Use different AI tools together - generate images with one tool, edit with another, create presentations with a third.

⚖️
Consider Usage Rights

Check licensing terms for each tool, especially for commercial or professional use cases.

🎯 Creative Applications by Use Case

📊 Academic Presentations
Use Canva AI for slide templates → DALL-E for custom diagrams → Loom AI for recording presentations with auto-transcription.
Tools: Canva AI, DALL-E, Loom AI
🎨 Creative Projects
Use Midjourney for artistic concepts → Adobe Firefly for professional editing → Runway ML for video animation.
Tools: Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Runway ML
📱 Digital Content
Use Figma AI for interface design → Leonardo AI for custom graphics → ElevenLabs for voice content.
Tools: Figma AI, Leonardo AI, ElevenLabs
💼 Professional Materials
Use Adobe Firefly for high-quality images → Canva AI for branded templates → professional licensing for commercial use.
Tools: Adobe Firefly, Canva AI

🎨 Creative Project Challenge

Choose a Creative Project to Practice
Select a project type below and follow the tool recommendations to build your creative AI skills.
📊 Educational Poster: Use DALL-E for concept images → Canva AI for layout design → Export high-resolution for printing
🎬 Explainer Video: Use Leonardo AI for illustrations → Runway ML for animation → ElevenLabs for narration
📱 App Interface: Use Figma AI for wireframes → Adobe Firefly for custom icons → Prototype with Figma's AI features
🎨 Marketing Campaign: Use Midjourney for artistic visuals → Canva AI for social media formats → Consider commercial licensing
Pro Tip: Start with free tools and simple projects to build your skills before attempting complex creative workflows.

📚 Essential Creative AI Knowledge

Image Generation vs. Editing
Generation creates new images from text, while editing modifies existing images
Example: DALL-E generates, Adobe Firefly can do both generation and editing
Commercial Licensing
Rights to use AI-generated content for business or professional purposes
Example: Adobe Firefly offers commercial use rights, while some tools don't
Prompt Engineering for Visuals
Crafting detailed text descriptions to achieve desired visual outcomes
Example: "Professional headshot, corporate setting, natural lighting, high resolution"
Style Consistency
Maintaining visual coherence across multiple AI-generated pieces
Example: Using the same art style descriptors across a presentation series
Resolution and Quality
Understanding output specifications for different use cases
Example: High-res for print materials, web-optimized for online use
Ethical AI Art
Considering bias, representation, and impact of AI-generated visual content
Example: Ensuring diverse representation in generated characters and scenarios

🚀 Your Creative AI Action Plan

Explore Creative Tools
Complete Creative Projects
Build Professional Skills

AI Quiz: Creative and Visual AI

🧠 Test Your Knowledge

Check your understanding of creative AI tools, applications, and best practices for visual content creation.

1
True or False: When using AI-generated images for professional or commercial purposes, licensing terms don't matter because AI creates original content.
2
Select ALL the tools that would be appropriate for creating an academic presentation with custom visuals:
3
Fill in the blank: When generating images with AI, you should be ________ about style and purpose to achieve better results.