Effective AI use isn't about fancy prompts. It's about developing habits that consistently produce good results while managing risks.
The Core Principles
1. Be Specific
Vague prompts produce vague results. Provide context, constraints, and clear objectives.
Instead of: "Write an email to parents"
Try: "Write a 200-word email to elementary school parents about next week's field trip to the science museum. Include: date/time, what to bring, permission slip deadline. Tone should be warm but informative."
2. Iterate, Don't Settle
First drafts are starting points. The magic happens in refinement.
Effective iteration:
- "Make this more concise"
- "Softer tone in the second paragraph"
- "Add a bullet list of key dates"
- "This sounds too formal; match our usual communication style"
3. Verify Everything
AI doesn't know when it's wrong. You must be the fact-checker.
Always verify:
- Statistics and numbers
- Quotes and attributions
- Legal or policy references
- Historical claims
- Current events (AI knowledge has cutoff dates)
4. Maintain Human Judgment
AI should inform decisions, not make them. You bring context, values, and accountability that AI cannot.
Human oversight needed for:
- Student-related decisions
- Personnel matters
- Policy interpretations
- Communications representing your organization
- Anything with legal or ethical implications
Prompting Techniques
Provide Context
Tell AI who you are, what you're trying to accomplish, and any relevant constraints.
"I'm a high school principal drafting talking points for a board meeting about declining enrollment. Our district serves a rural community and has seen a 15% decline over 3 years. I need 5 key points that acknowledge the challenge while presenting a constructive path forward."
Specify Format
Tell AI exactly what format you want.
- "Give me a bulleted list"
- "Write this as a formal letter"
- "Create a table comparing these options"
- "Provide 3 alternatives ranked by cost"
Set Constraints
Boundaries improve outputs.
- "Keep this under 200 words"
- "Use 8th grade reading level"
- "Avoid educational jargon"
- "Focus only on budget implications"
Request Reasoning
Ask AI to explain its thinking.
- "Walk me through your reasoning"
- "What are the trade-offs of each option?"
- "What assumptions are you making?"
- "What might I be missing?"
Workflow Integration
Start with AI, Finish with You
- Let AI generate the first draft
- Review and identify what works
- Iterate on specific sections
- Add your voice and judgment
- Verify facts and claims
- Final human review before use
Know When NOT to Use AI
AI isn't always the right tool:
- When you need to demonstrate your own thinking
- For highly sensitive communications
- When the creative process itself is valuable
- For decisions requiring nuanced human judgment
- When data privacy is a concern
Building Your AI Toolkit
Have Go-To Prompts
Develop templates for tasks you do regularly:
- Board report summaries
- Parent communications
- Meeting agendas
- Policy analysis
- Data interpretation
Document What Works
Keep notes on effective prompts and approaches. Share successes with colleagues.
Stay Current
AI capabilities change rapidly. What didn't work last year might work brilliantly today. Revisit your assumptions periodically.
The Bottom Line
Effective AI use is a skill that develops with practice. Start simple, iterate often, verify always, and maintain your human judgment throughout. The goal is augmentation, not replacement.
Your action item: Pick one task you'll do this week. Commit to using AI for it, iterating at least 3 times, and verifying the final output before use.