Digital Literacy

Lessons

Workflow with AI Assistants (Attempt → Hint → Verify → Produce)

Lesson

Why This Lesson Matters

AI assistants can help you think faster—but only if you stay in control. Used well, they can outline a brief, tidy grammar, format a table, or suggest practice questions. Used badly, they invent facts, copy others’ words, or leak private data. In Sri Lanka, where many learners are mobile-first and data-conscious, a simple, safe workflow turns AI from a distraction into a quiet accelerator for study and work.

This lesson teaches a repeatable loop you’ll use in every module: Attempt → Hint → Verify → Produce. You’ll learn when to ask AI, what to ask, how to check the answer, and how to deliver clean work that’s truly yours.

“AI is your assistant, not your replacement.”

Step 1: Attempt — Think First, in Your Own Words

Before you open an AI chat, attempt the task yourself. Read the textbook page, your notes, or the brief. Write five bullet points in your own words. If it’s a document, draft a short paragraph or an outline. If it’s a sheet, sketch the table you need. This does two things: it builds your understanding, and it gives AI something clear to improve.

Keep this mindset: AI helps after you put your brain on the page. If you skip Attempt, you won’t know whether AI is correct or relevant.

“Human effort first. AI assists second.”

Step 2: Hint — Ask for Help (Clear, Safe, Bilingual if Needed)

Now you can ask for a hint. Write one neat prompt that states:

Your goal, 2) Your draft/context, 3) The format you want, and 4) Constraints (level, length, Sri Lankan context).

Prompt pattern (copy this):

Goal: “I’m writing a one-page brief on ___ for O/L students.”
Context: “Here are my 5 key points and a rough paragraph (below).”
Ask: “Suggest a clearer outline with 3 headings and a 3×3 table.”
Constraints: “Keep simple English (Grade 10), mention Sri Lankan examples, ≤180 words.”
Output format: “Return: H1/H2 headings + table only.”

Bilingual tip: You may prompt in English or Sinhala (or mix): “මේ අන්තර්ගතය සරල ඉංග්‍රීසියෙන් (Grade 10) තේරුම් වෙන්න ලෙස වෙනස් කරන්න. පළාත් පාලන උදාහරණ 1ක් දම්ම.”

Privacy rule: Never paste NIC numbers, bank details, full addresses, exam paper PDFs, or anything sensitive. Use placeholders: , .

When AI is ideal for “Hint”:

Tightening sentences and fixing grammar
Proposing headings or an outline structure
Turning bullet notes into a tidy table
Drafting practice questions for self-testing
Translating short phrases across Sinhala ↔ English for clarity

Step 3: Verify — Trust Only What You Can Check

AI can be wrong with confidence. Verification is not optional; it’s the heart of your professionalism.

Your 6-point verification checklist:

Facts: For any numbers, dates, or claims—confirm with two reputable sources (Lesson 10 method).
Logic: Does the explanation actually follow? Any missing step?
Local fit: Does it make sense in Sri Lanka’s context (terms, prices, systems)?
Originality: Rewrite in your voice; don’t copy AI output word-for-word.
Citations: If you kept any fact/definition, add a Works Cited box (clean and traceable).
Constraints kept: Right length, level, tone, and required formats?

For maths/science: Ask AI to show steps, then check steps against textbook methods. For writing: Read the AI suggestion aloud. If it sounds like you would never say it, rewrite.

“If you can’t verify it, don’t submit it.”

Step 4: Produce — Deliver Clean Work with Notes

When the draft is ready and verified, produce the final artifact:

In Docs: apply styles (H1/H2/Normal), add your table, add Works Cited (if needed), and export PDF to Outputs.
In Sheets: keep your tidy table and formulas; add a chart if appropriate; export PDF to Outputs.
In Slides: ensure message headlines and readable sizes; export Full slides PDF + Handout.

Add a small AI-assist note at the end of your Doc (2 lines): “AI assistance: outline and grammar suggestions. All facts verified via [Source A, Source B]. Edits by [Your Name].” This keeps your integrity transparent and strong.

The Golden Rule

Attempt → Hint → Verify → Produce: try first, get targeted help, double-check, then ship a clean PDF.

Bad vs Better — Real AI Choices

Situation	Bad	Better
Starting with AI	“Write my essay for me.”	Attempt 5 bullets → ask for headings + table
Vague prompt	“Explain compounding.”	“Explain compounding for Grade 10, in 120–150 words, with a Sri Lankan savings example.”
Trusting blindly	Copying AI text	Fact-check numbers; rewrite in your voice
Private data	Paste NIC/passport	Use placeholders ([StudentName])
No citation	“According to AI…”	Works Cited with 2 real sources
No record	No note of AI use	2-line AI-assist note at end of Doc

Essentials vs Nice-to-Have

Essentials (now)	Nice-to-Have (later)
Write 5 bullets before prompting	Personal prompt library by task type
One clear prompt with constraints	Prompt variants A/B to compare outputs
Two-source verification	Lightweight fact-tables for common stats
AI-assist note in Doc	Style guide prompts (tone/voice presets)
Export to PDF after checks	Automated checklists in template docs

Prompt Menu (copy/paste and adapt)

Outline Upgrade: “Here are my 5 points on ___ (below). Create H1 + three H2s and a 3×3 table. Keep it Grade 10 English. Focus on Sri Lanka examples. ≤150 words body.”
Clarity & Grammar: “Edit for clarity and shorter sentences (12–18 words). Keep my meaning and voice. Highlight only changed phrases.”
Table Builder: “Turn these bullets into a 3-column table (Step | What to do | Why it helps). Keep labels short. No paragraph text.”
Practice Questions: “Create 5 quiz questions from my notes. Mix: 3 MCQ, 1 short answer, 1 ‘explain in 3 lines’. Provide an answer key.”
Bilingual Assist: “Translate the headings to Sinhala (Unicode). Keep technical terms in English in brackets at first mention.”
Math/Science Steps: “Show step-by-step working for this type of problem. Then give one new practice question with answer.”

Sri Lanka–Ready Guardrails

Exams & integrity: Never ask AI to answer live exam or restricted past-paper content that is not allowed. Use AI to learn, not to cheat.
Data cost: Keep chats short; reuse prompts; paste only relevant context.
Privacy: No IDs, bank data, exact addresses, or personal medical details.
Language: Unicode Sinhala/Tamil only; confirm in PDF preview.
Print shops: AI text can look fine in chat but wrap badly in Word—export PDF and proof on your phone first.

Guided Build: Turn Your Draft into a Verified Artifact

Use your Lesson 4 Brief or Lesson 5 Sheet.

Attempt (5–10 min): Write 5 bullets or a rough paragraph/table from your notes.
Hint (5–10 min): Use one Prompt Menu pattern to upgrade structure or clarity.
Verify (10–15 min): Check any facts through two sources (Lesson 10). Rewrite in your voice where needed.
Produce (5–10 min): Apply styles or tidy the sheet; add Works Cited; export PDF to Outputs.
AI-assist note (2 lines): Add at the end of the Doc.

Quick Win Ask AI to shorten one paragraph to 90–120 words without losing meaning. Read aloud; keep your voice; export the updated PDF.

Artifact to Produce

AI Workflow Proof (Doc) that contains:

Your original 5 bullets or rough paragraph (Attempt)
The prompt you used (Hint)
A short verification note listing two sources (Verify)
A final paragraph or table in your words + AI-assist note (Produce)

Export a PDF to Outputs: YYYY-MM-DD_AI-Workflow-Proof_V1.pdf If your project was a sheet or slides deck, include view-only links and export the final PDFs there too.

Self-Verification (SV) Checklist

I wrote 5 bullets/rough draft before using AI
My prompt states goal, context, format, constraints
I changed AI text into my voice (no copy-paste blocks)
All facts verified via two reputable sources (listed)
Works Cited box added, clean and traceable
Privacy respected (no sensitive data pasted)
AI-assist note included at end of Doc
Final file exported to PDF and saved in Outputs
File name follows rule YYYY-MM-DD_Topic_V#
I can explain what AI helped with and what I did

Mobile Tip (Android & iOS)

Keep one Notes template named “AI Attempt” with three sections: A) 5 bullets, B) Prompt, C) Verification links. Copy it each time before you open an AI app. When data is low, do Attempt fully offline, then paste only what’s needed for the Hint. Always proof the PDF on your phone before sharing.

Stuck? Fast Fixes

AI sounds too fancy: “Rewrite in my voice: simple English, 12–18 words per sentence, keep key terms.”
Hallucinated facts: Replace the sentence; add a citation from a real source; never leave it half-true.
Too long: “Cut to ≤120 words. Keep points A, B, C; remove extra adjectives.”
Translation drift: “Back-translate to English to confirm meaning; keep technical term in English in brackets.”
Structure messy: “Return in H1/H2 headings and a 3×3 table only.”

Common Roadblocks (and simple fixes)

If you feel dependent on AI, increase your Attempt size (from 5 bullets to a rough paragraph). If verification feels heavy, build a small Source Favourites list (gov.lk, ac.lk, recognised NGOs/newsrooms) and check there first. If your teacher says the tone isn’t yours, speak your paragraph out loud and type what you just said—that is your authentic voice.

“Speed is useful. Ownership is essential.”

Keeping Yourself Motivated

The first time you run the full loop—Attempt → Hint → Verify → Produce—you’ll notice your final work is both faster and stronger. You’ll also feel calmer: there’s a place for AI in your routine that doesn’t threaten your learning or integrity. Add two lines to your Portfolio README: “Used AI to propose structure; verified facts with CBSL + university page,” and “Exported clean PDF with AI-assist note.”

Your First Step Is Complete

You can now use AI responsibly to draft faster, improve clarity, format tables, and create practice questions—without losing your voice or your ethics. Your AI Workflow Proof (Doc + PDF) sits in Outputs, and the same loop will power your future study, work, and projects.

Idasara