Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool supports academic integrity and creates a personalised, collaborative learning space. Think of it as having a conversation with a helpful “ally” or critical “partner” who’s there to inspire your creativity and make your work in art, design, or performance more dynamic. While some students might worry that relying on AI is unfair, it can actually be a great resource for exploring new ideas and improving your skills.
Firstly, AI can assist in:
- generating ideas through brainstorming tools like ChatGPT
- automating repetitive tasks with platforms such as Zapier
- providing real-time grammar and style corrections for your writing via tools like Grammarly
- preparing you for future-ready skills through adaptive learning platforms like Coursera
- fostering collaboration with design tools like Figma
- enhancing art with generators like DALL-E or Artbreeder
- refining your visual designs with Adobe Sensei and
- composing original music with AIVA for performance projects.
This enables you to focus on what you love most – being at the heart of your work and creative practice!
Secondly, AI can elevate your academic research by improving the clarity and flow of your writing. When it comes to research and dissertations, AI can sift through extensive literature, suggest improvements and relevant sources, and identify trends, broadening your research scope. Just remember to double-check any AI recommendations to ensure they’re accurate and trustworthy. This partnership not only streamlines your workflow but also deepens awareness of your subject and understanding of your discipline.
Getting the most out of AI prompts and questions is essential, but it can feel overwhelming. To make it easier, focus on asking clear, specific questions. Instead of vague inquiries like, “Tell me everything about art,” or “What should I do for my project?” consider more targeted or specific prompts. For example, a fine art student might ask, “What are three contemporary techniques in abstract painting that use mixed media?” A graphic design student could inquire, “What are effective colour schemes for eco-friendly branding?” Meanwhile, a performance student might wonder, “How can I incorporate audience interaction into contemporary theatre?” This approach not only saves time but also yields more relevant and useful results.
So, when working with AI, how do you craft better prompts for better conversations?..
| use simple language | keep it conversational | avoid cliches | be honest |
| avoid marketing language | be neutral | use natural grammar | stay away from fluff / flowery |
If your course encourages the use of AI, you could use this template to document prompts for assessments, by logging your questions, AI responses, and key insights. This will make it easier to track your creative journey and demonstrate how you’ve integrated AI into your work and practice. The template helps to record a series of interactions with AI, helping you capture the evolution of your inquiry and the depth of your exploration. You can see an example of another template style here.
So remember, creating better prompts can really improve your conversations with AI. The more specific and thoughtful your questions are, the more helpful and interesting the answers will be. You can experiment with and record different prompts to see how they change your interactions. As you learn to ask better questions, you’ll discover new ideas and insights that can enhance your projects, practice and studies. Happy creating and AI-ing!