Prompting Progress: How Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the classroom
This example is shared by a Primary 5-7 teacher from Kirklandpark Primary School in South Lanarkshire Council (SLC), and uses Adobe Express
Use case: Empowering creative digital learners
Our Skills Workshops operate on a rotation, allowing pupils to build a wide range of essential skills for learning, life and work across the school year.
A key focus throughout has been the use of the AI image generator within Adobe Express, with pupils creating and refining prompts to generate images for their projects.
The SLC Skills Framework has been used to structure learning around Adobe Express, supporting pupils to build essential digital skills. Our specific focus has been on exploring how Generative AI can be a real game-changer for creative tasks. We’ve had some fantastic, honest discussions about what AI actually is and how it works, focusing heavily on the idea that ‘what you get out is only as good as what you put in.’
By experimenting with their own ‘Personal Brand’ mood boards and redesigning existing logos, the pupils have really sharpened their digital literacy and design skills. It’s been brilliant to see them embody the four capacities as they build their skills and create a fuller understanding of AI, moving from simply ‘using’ a computer, to critically evaluating how technology can help them solve problems and express their own identity.
We’ve had some fantastic, honest discussions about what AI actually is and how it works, focusing heavily on the idea that ‘what you get out is only as good as what you put in.’
Crafting prompts
Pupils learned that different tasks required different prompts, encouraging them to use clear, concise and descriptive language to achieve the AI generated image they needed for their challenge.
Was it a ‘one-and-done’ success, or did you have to tweak your instructions to get what you needed?
The AI in Adobe Express often understood what the pupils were aiming for, and when it didn’t quite get it right, it encouraged them to think more carefully about the language they were using, leading to great discussions about being specific and lots of enjoyment in experimenting with different prompts.
Facilitating these workshops across P5–P7 has been a valuable learning process for myself, particularly in observing the diverse range of prior experiences and digital literacy skills each group had. The varied level of experience required me to be highly adaptable, tailoring my approach to take into account pupil prior knowledge, and ensuring the pace was right for each learner.
How the tools improved the task I was doing
I believe it’s vital to teach children about the functions and ethics of AI, and using Adobe Express has been an incredible way to engage them while developing key transferable digital skills. By using the generative AI features, the children have gained a much clearer understanding of how to use these tools purposefully, rather than just for novelty. I’ve found that while the AI didn’t necessarily make the task ‘easier’, it introduced a fresh perspective and a real challenge that forced them to think critically about their choices. A huge part of this was the trial and error of honing their prompts; this iterative process required them to be highly focused on their end goal.
My advice for others who haven’t used these tools before
My advice for other teachers would be to take full advantage of the training provided by your council. The training provided by SLC has been an invaluable resource that gave me lots of practical ideas to get started. If you have someone leading Digital in your school, ask for their help too. I also believe it’s essential to spend time experimenting with the software yourself first. Having your own hands-on experience allows you to navigate the quirks and advantages of Adobe and its generative AI with confidence, which in turn leads to much more meaningful and authentic discussions with the pupils. Ultimately, these are skills for life in an increasingly digital world, and by preparing ourselves thoroughly, we ensure we are effectively equipping our children to be Responsible Citizens and Successful Learners who can thrive in a changing landscape.
Next steps
Examples
Design your own ugly sweater or plushy examples.
Click each image to enlarge.
