A course plan for teachers on using Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or GPT-J to generate writing prompts and enhance their teaching of writing skills. This course is designed to span several sessions and can be adjusted to fit the needs of different educators:

Course Title: Leveraging Language Models for Writing Prompts and Instruction

Course Duration: 6 Sessions (adjustable)

Session 1: Introduction to Language Models

• Overview of Language Models (LMs) and their applications in education.
• Introduction to ChatGPT and other relevant LLMs.
• Discuss the potential benefits of using LLMs for generating writing prompts.

Session 2: Types of Writing Prompts

• Exploration of different types of writing prompts (e.g., descriptive, persuasive, narrative).
• How LLMs can assist in creating diverse and engaging prompts.
• Hands-on activity: Generating writing prompts with LLMs.

Session 3: Customizing Prompts for Different Levels

• Adapting prompts for different grade levels and skill levels.
• Using LLMs to modify prompts for specific learning objectives.
• Case studies of successful prompt customization.

Session 4: Incorporating Creativity and Critical Thinking

• Strategies for using LLMs to encourage creative and critical thinking in writing prompts.
• Discussing the role of open-ended prompts.
• Group activity: Brainstorming creative prompts with LLMs.

Session 5: Feedback and Assessment

• How LLMs can assist in providing feedback on writing assignments.
• Guidelines for evaluating and grading student writing with AI-generated prompts.
• Peer review and self-assessment using LLM-generated criteria.

Session 6: Practical Integration and Best Practices

• Tips for integrating LLM-generated prompts into lesson plans.
• Addressing ethical considerations and plagiarism detection.
• Sharing best practices and experiences among participants.
• Review of available resources and tools for educators.

Additional Resources:

• Provide participants with a curated list of open-source and commercial LLMs for educational purposes.
• Share relevant research articles and case studies on the use of LLMs in education.
• Offer access to forums or communities where educators can continue to share ideas and experiences.

Assessment:

• Participants can demonstrate their understanding by creating a sample lesson plan that incorporates LLM-generated prompts.
• Peer review of lesson plans and writing prompts generated during the course.

Course Materials:

• Slide presentations for each session.
• Handouts and templates for generating prompts and evaluating student writing.
• Access to an LLM platform or API for practical exercises.

Evaluation and Feedback:

• Collect feedback from participants at the end of each session to make adjustments as needed.
• Conduct a post-course survey to gauge the overall effectiveness of the training.

This course plan provides a structured approach to help teachers harness the power of LLMs for creating effective and engaging writing prompts, ultimately enhancing their students' writing skills. It encourages hands-on practice and collaborative learning to ensure participants can confidently integrate these techniques into their teaching methods.