Prompting Lab: The Elements of a Good Prompt Workshop Description

Led by: Stephan Schmidt

Getting useful results from generative AI starts with knowing how to ask the right question. For public professionals who are new to AI tools, prompting can feel like guesswork: What information should you include? How much context is enough? How do you ask for the tone, format, or level of detail you need?

In this beginner-friendly Prompting Lab, you will learn the basic structure of an effective prompt and practice building prompts that support everyday public sector work. We will break down key elements such as context, task, role, audience, tone, format, examples, and constraints. Through practical exercises, you will learn how to move from a vague request to a clearer, more useful prompt that keeps human judgment, accuracy, and accountability at the center.

This workshop is designed for public professionals who are starting to use generative AI and want a practical, low-pressure introduction to prompting.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Identify the core elements of a strong prompt, including context, task, role, tone, audience, format, and constraints.
Apply a simple prompt structure to common public sector tasks such as drafting, summarizing, planning, and simplifying information.
Revise vague prompts to make them clearer, more specific, and better aligned with the intended outcome.
Evaluate AI-generated responses for usefulness, accuracy, tone, and fit for public sector work.
Use prompting practices that support transparency, human oversight, and responsible use of AI.