Start with a Clear Seminar Idea
AI works best when you give it a clear starting point. Before asking for help, write a short description of your seminar topic, audience, format, and goals.
- Write the working title of your seminar.
- Describe the main topic in two or three sentences.
- Identify the audience as adult lifelong learners.
- Note the number of sessions and length of each session.
- List any themes, questions, books, films, events, or examples you already know you want to include.
Sample prompt: I am designing a UDOLLI seminar for adult lifelong learners on [topic]. The seminar will meet for [number] sessions, [length] minutes each. Help me brainstorm a clear seminar description, possible session topics, and a logical sequence for the course.
Tip: The more specific your starting information is, the more useful the AI response will be.
Ask AI to Suggest a Seminar Structure
Once your topic is clear, ask AI to suggest a possible structure. This can help you move from a general idea to a workable session-by-session plan.
- Ask for a session-by-session outline.
- Request a progression from introductory concepts to deeper discussion.
- Ask AI to identify which topics may need more or less time.
- Review the suggested order and remove anything that does not fit your purpose.
- Add your own examples, readings, stories, or expertise to the outline.
Sample prompt: Create a six-session outline for this seminar. For each session, include a session title, brief description, key ideas, and one discussion question. The tone should be engaging, intellectually curious, and appropriate for adult lifelong learners.
Tip: Treat the AI outline as a draft, not a final plan. Keep what helps and discard what does not.
Create Practical Learning Goals
Learning goals help clarify what participants should understand, discuss, or be able to reflect on by the end of the seminar.
- Ask AI to draft three to five learning goals for the full seminar.
- Make sure the goals are realistic for the seminar length.
- Use plain language that participants will understand.
- Focus on understanding, discussion, reflection, analysis, or appreciation.
- Revise the goals so they match your actual seminar plan.
Sample prompt: Based on this seminar outline, write five learning goals for adult lifelong learners. Use clear, non-academic language. The goals should focus on understanding, discussion, reflection, and application rather than tests or grades.
Tip: UDOLLI seminars are not traditional graded courses. Goals should support curiosity, engagement, and meaningful discussion.
Brainstorm Activities and Engagement Ideas
AI can help generate ideas for discussions, reflection activities, small group prompts, timelines, comparison exercises, or media-based activities.
- Identify which sessions would benefit from interaction or discussion.
- Ask AI for several activity options, not just one.
- Choose activities that fit the room, time, and participant comfort level.
- Avoid overly complicated activities that require too much setup.
- Revise the activity instructions so they sound natural in your own voice.
Sample prompt: Suggest three low-pressure discussion activities for session [number] of this seminar. The activities should work well with adult learners, require minimal technology, and encourage respectful participation.
Tip: For UDOLLI audiences, simple activities often work best: paired discussion, reflection prompts, image analysis, timeline review, or guided comparison.
Generate Discussion Questions
Strong discussion questions help participants connect the topic to ideas, experiences, historical context, ethical questions, or current relevance.
- Ask AI for open-ended questions rather than yes-or-no questions.
- Request questions at different levels: introductory, reflective, analytical, and applied.
- Review questions for tone and sensitivity.
- Remove questions that feel too leading, simplistic, or divisive.
- Adapt the final questions to match your style and seminar goals.
Sample prompt: Create ten open-ended discussion questions for this session. Include a mix of introductory, reflective, analytical, and application-focused questions. Avoid questions that are overly academic or confrontational.
Tip: The best questions invite conversation rather than push participants toward one “correct” answer.
Draft a Seminar Description
AI can help turn your outline into a clear seminar description for participants, but the final description should accurately reflect what you plan to teach.
- Provide AI with your topic, audience, session structure, and main goals.
- Ask for a concise description written for prospective UDOLLI participants.
- Check that the description is accurate and not overpromising.
- Remove marketing language that feels exaggerated or unclear.
- Revise the description so it sounds like you and reflects the actual seminar experience.
Sample prompt: Write a 100-word seminar description for adult lifelong learners based on this outline. Make it inviting, clear, and accurate. Avoid hype, technical jargon, and promises that the seminar will cover more than it realistically can.
Tip: A good description helps participants understand the focus, level, and style of the seminar before they register.
Review and Refine the AI Output
AI output should always be reviewed carefully. You are responsible for the accuracy, appropriateness, and quality of the final seminar plan.
- Check factual claims, names, dates, titles, and examples.
- Remove anything that does not fit your expertise or planned seminar scope.
- Look for missing perspectives, oversimplifications, or biased framing.
- Adjust the tone for UDOLLI’s adult lifelong learning audience.
- Make the final plan your own before submitting or presenting it.
Tip: AI can help you draft faster, but your expertise, judgment, and relationship with participants are what make the seminar strong.
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