Leveraging GenAI: Crafting a Course Syllabus with Ease

Although it’s still summer, a little early planning can go a long way. While we don’t recommend relying solely on generative AI to create your syllabus, it can be a valuable tool for streamlining and supporting the development process. Today, consider how GenAI can work with you to facilitate syllabus prep, with tips ranging from quick wins to deeper dives.

Screening for Inclusive Tone

Your syllabus is nearly complete, but you want to ensure it is worded in an inclusive and welcoming way, as suggested here by Cate Denial.  

There is a custom GPT dedicated to that exact task that can help.  

1. Go to the custom GPT called Inclusive Language Advisor.  
2. Enter, “Can you review this text for inclusive language?” 
3. Attach your resume and read your inclusive language report. It will outline the strengths and suggest specific areas for improvement. It will also provide an overall inclusive language score.  This GPT will work for any text-based documents, not just syllabi.   

Updating a Syllabus

You may already have a syllabus from the previous semester, but it needs to be updated. Here is a prompt you can copy and paste into any GenAI tool to do just that. This includes updating dates and revising language for clarity or bias.  

The following prompt uses an advanced technique known as role-based prompting, designed to elicit specific and specialized responses. This approach is not intended to suggest that generative AI can replace instructors or instructional designers. For more information on prompt writing, see Key Techniques for Writing Effective Prompts.  

Prompt: Act like a university-level curriculum designer and experienced college professor. Your role is to review and update the attached course syllabus in preparation for the upcoming academic Fall semester in 2025. 

Your objectives are: 

1. Carefully update all dates and deadlines within the syllabus so they are accurate for the 2025 academic calendar. 
2. Revise the document to ensure clarity, precision, and readability, making it accessible to a diverse student body. 
3. Proactively examine and revise any language perceived as exclusive, biased, outdated, or unclear. Replace it with inclusive, respectful, and contemporary alternatives that reflect current academic and cultural standards. 
4. Do not alter course content or learning outcomes unless they hinder clarity or inclusivity. 
5. Maintain the professional tone, formatting, and academic rigor appropriate for a college-level syllabus. 

This prompt was created using a custom GPT called PromptMaker.

Starting from Scratch

How would you like to answer five easy questions about a new course you will teach and get back a first draft of the syllabus? AI can help you get there. AI for Work is a prompt library that will help you with a syllabus prompt that you can use in any GenAI tool to get a syllabus draft.  

1. Simply access this link at AIfoWork.com to get your syllabus prompt.  
2. Copy the long prompt.  
3. Paste the long prompt into the chat area of any GenAI tool.  
4. The GenAI tool where you enter the prompt into will ask you five questions. (The questions may vary depending on what tool you use.) 
5. Answer the questions, and the result will be a syllabus draft. It may need some fine-tuning, but it is better than starting with a blank page.    

Moreusefulthings.com also provides a GenAI co-creator prompt for developing a syllabus.  

See more helpful GenAI prompt libraries here at Control ALT Achieve: Transforming Education with Technology.  

If you have any questions, please contact IDT by email at idt@camden.rutgers.edu or by calling (856) 225-6090.